Why do many people think we should celebrate July 2nd?
The Continental Congress voted unanimously for independence (with one abstention from New York) on July 2, 1776 — thus the interest in July 2nd as a fitting holiday. However, Congress didn't approve the Declaration of Independence document until July 4, 1776. Despite John Adams prediction that "the Second of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America" it is July 4th that became our celebrated day of independence.
The U.S. is not the only country celebrating freedom on July 4
It is also Liberation Day in Rwanda and Republic Day in the Philippines.
Many Many Millions of Hot Dogs
In the U.S., expect celebrants to consume somewhere in the realm of 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day this year.
The Fourth of July is a big day for consumer spending
This year, Americans are expected to spend around $9.5 billion on food alone, and in 2022, revelers spent $2.3 billion on fireworks. Spending on the holiday used to be a faux pas; before the Civil War, it was considered unpatriotic for businesses to remain open on July 4th.
There are numerous celebrations of U.S. Independence Day abroad
Celebrations of the United States' Independence Day happen in Denmark, Norway, Ireland and Sydney, Australia. In Denmark, the Rebild Festival rings in the festivities with a picnic and music.
There have been 27 different versions of the official U.S. flag
Out of 27 changes to the U.S. flag made from 1777 to 1960, 25 of them were made only to the stars on the flag. Since 1818, the number of stars on the flag, by law, must always reflect the number of states in the United States, with new stars added to the flag on July 4 in the year following their admission. The last was Hawaii's star after it was admitted in 1959.
