Interesting 4th of July Facts
One of the biggest holidays of the year for Americans is the Fourth of July. It is the day that we celebrate our independence from England and the beginnings of America as a nation that could stand on its own. But how much do you really know about the day? Do you know why we celebrate it the way that we do? Have you ever thought about how the day of celebration came to become one of the biggest holidays of the year for Americans? Well, then you are in the right place. Read on to find out these 4th of July Facts.
Wrong Date
The day we celebrate the independence of America is not the actual day that the agreement passed the Continental Congress. That day was July 2nd. The reason the fourth of July was chosen was that it was the date that is printed on the document. It wasn’t even signed that day either. That happened in August 1776.
Fireworks
The first celebrations had fireworks like those that we have now. But the ones that they used were nothing like the displays that we enjoy today. And it wasn’t just fireworks that were fired off. For many years they would have cannon blasts and artillery salutes that accompanied the early rockets.
A Holiday
The very first state to make the fourth of July a holiday was Massachusetts in 1781. It would still be almost 100 years before it became a national holiday. It wasn’t made a federal holiday until 1914.
Big Price Tag on Fun
The number of firework celebrations around the country is about 15,000. Smaller cities will spend about $10,000 on fireworks. Larger cities obviously have a larger budget, so the price tag jumps up closer to the million-dollar mark.
Related Reading: 10 Interesting Facts About Christmas and 10 Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving
What To Eat?
The food that is preferred at the parties and celebrations? The hotdog of course! On the fourth of July, over 150 million of the things will be eaten around the country. The second favorite is chicken on the BBQ. Hamburgers are lower down on the list. But whatever food you choose to consume it will probably be cooked on a grill.
Beer anyone?
With about $1 billion spent on beer and $500 million on wine. The fourth of July is definitely a boozy holiday.
Eating Contest Anyone?
The Nathan’s hotdog eating contest started in 1916 on July fourth. An impromptu eating contest between recent immigrants was the first one. It occurred at the original Nathan’s location on Coney Island. The first recorded contest was in 1972. The current record-holder is Joey Chestnut who downed 74 in 10 minutes in 2018. Which also set a new world record.
Fireworks are Dangerous
Fireworks are the cause of over 13,000 injuries each year around the fourth of July. Beginning in mid-June and lasting till about mid-July the number of accidents and injuries increases.
Three Presidents Have Died on The Fourth
There have been three US presidents that died on the fourth of July. Two of the founding fathers died on the same day in 1826. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. This was also the 50th anniversary of the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted. James Monroe was the third to die on that day in 1831. Which was only 5 years later.
Oldest Celebration
Bristol, Rhode Island has the oldest, longest-running fourth of July celebrations. The festivities start on June 14 which is Flag Day and run until July 4th. There is a bunch of activities that run throughout the celebrations. From parades to concerts there is no shortage of fun things to do.
Final thoughts
Whether you spend the day at the beach or having a BBQ with family and friends these are some cool facts about the 4th of July that you can use to entertain everyone. I hope you enjoyed this list of facts. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.
Are there any other facts that you know of? Let me know in the comments!