Fourth of July FAQ

Oh, the smell of the barbecues cooking and the sound of children laughing at the fireworks in the air on the Fourth of July. It brings fond memories of past celebrations and makes you look forward to coming celebrations. It is more than just a day to spend at the beach or in the backyard. It is a day that has significant historical meaning in the United States. Far too often the firework displays and outdoor concerts make people forget why Independence Day is celebrated each year. Sure, you get a national holiday off from work, or at least some people do, but what do you really know about this holiday? In this article we will cover why this day is so special and how other countries have their own Independence Day's. Perhaps it will remind you of how new the United States actually is and why this day is celebrated so much.

What is the Declaration of Independence?

On July 4th, 1775 the Continental Congress approved a document that stated that the colonies in America would no longer subject themselves to foreign rule. It is a formal document stating why the colonies were at war with Great Britain and would no longer be under the King George III jurisdiction. The document listed the grievances that the colonies had with his rule over them and set forth a list of certain rights that gave the colonies the choice in who ruled them. In fact one of the most widely known sentences came from the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Those words have been taught to every school child in the United States so that each would know that they are entitled to these unalienable rights.

What is the myth regarding the Declaration of Independence and the Fourth of July?

The big myth that most people do not know is that the Declaration of Independence was not signed by all the delegates on July 4th, 1776. It was actually signed later on August 2nd. The myth was so widespread that even John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (later in their years) believed that they and all the other delegates actually signed on the Fourth of July in 1776. Another fact that many Americans do not realize is that the legal separation from the colonies actually happened July 2nd 1776.

If I want to have a Fourth of July party, what type of theme should I use?

The most obvious theme to have for your Independence Day bash would to be a patriotic theme. You could hang flags around your house and in your yard. There are also tons of recipes that play on the "Red, White and Blue" theme. But you do not have to go with the obvious choice. You can have a luau for your party where everyone wears grass skirts and has leis around their necks. The choices are endless. If you do a search for party theme ideas on the internet, you are going to have hundreds to choose from.

What are some traditional foods to serve on the Fourth of July?

You just cannot go wrong with grilling. You can grill: hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, seafood, poultry, pork and vegetables. Plus grilling allows everyone to gather around in the backyard for some conversation and games. A big hit with children is making S'mores. You can make S'mores by building a small fire in a fire pit and having the kids toast marshmallows over the fire with long sticks. Once the marshmallow is nice and toasted place it between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate. The heat of the marshmallow will melt the chocolate and you will have an ooey gooey delight. Just make sure to heavily supervise the children while they are near the fire and always keep a garden hose or fire extinguisher on hand just in case the fire gets out of control.