Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸🎉🎆 On this day in 1776, our nation was born as the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Independence Day has only been a federal holiday since 1941, but July 4th has been celebrated as our country’s birthday since the eighteenth century.

Fittingly, the first celebration of Independence Day took place in Philadelphia, site of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776, mere days after the Declaration was signed. The celebration continued as an annual event in Philadelphia and soon became widespread in our new nation.

Did you know? John Adams predicted that Independence Day celebrations would take place on July 2, not July 4. Why? On that day, the Congress approved a resolution that the colonies were free and independent states. His excitement for the resolution (as opposed to the Declaration) did not catch on however, though his celebratory sentiments came true:

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Our Patriotic Party (The Children’s Party Book), Frances Tipton Hunter, 1923

-Written by Anna Zemaitaitis, Communications and Design Officer