WASHINGTON — America will be decked out in red, white and blue on Thursday as millions across the nation celebrate the Fourth of July.
This yearly celebration of freedom observed on July 4 often involves cookouts, star-spangled parades, bright firework displays and other patriotic festivities.
Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, but it took a long time to evolve to the widespread celebration it is now.
Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence to announce the colonies’ separation from the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Library of Congress says.
The actual vote for independence happened two days earlier, History.com says – but July 4 is seen as the "birthday" of American independence.
The Fourth of July also isn't when the Declaration of Independence was signed. According to the National Archives, delegates began signing the engrossed Declaration of Independence on Aug. 2.
Independence Day celebrations grow
On the first anniversary of the Declaration's adoption, John Adams wrote to his daughter describing last-minute festivities in Philadelphia.
"Yesterday, being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion ... The thought of taking any notice of this day, was not conceived, until the second of this month, and it was not mentioned until the third."
Despite its last-minute nature, Adams remarked on the "brilliancy and splendour" of Philadelphia's first Fourth of July celebration.
It's hard to imagine a time before Americans celebrated on the Fourth of July. However, according to the Library of Congress, the celebrations didn't become widespread until after the War of 1812. Celebrations kept growing, becoming what the Library called "the most important secular holiday on the calendar" by the 1870s — a time when even "far-flung communities on the western frontier managed to congregate."
Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?
Francis Scott Key, a prominent attorney, turned a wartime experience in the early 19th century into the poem that became the national anthem of the United States.
In September 1814, two years after the War of 1812 had started between the United States and the British, he was on a ship to negotiate an American prisoner's release and witnessed a 25-hour British bombardment of Fort McHenry.
From his vantage point on the Patapsco River, the 35-year-old Key was able to see that the American flag stayed up through the hours of darkness and was still at the top of the fort when the morning came. He turned it into a poem.
“And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,” as one of Key's original lines says. The rockets and bombs later became plural.
Initially known as “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” it was set to the music of a British song and became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner.” Over the 19th century, it became increasingly popular as a patriotic song. In March 1931, then-President Herbert Hoover officially made it the country's national anthem.
How many white stripes are on the American flag?
The American flag bears 13 red and white horizontal stripes, a representation of the original 13 colonies.
Six of the 13 are white while the remaining 7 are red. The crimson color represents hardiness and value while the white symbolizes purity and innocence, PBS reports.
The blue in the top left corner represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. It is topped off with 50 stars to represent the 50 states of the nation.
Is the Fourth of July a federal holiday?
Yes — one of the first! In 1870, Congress passed an act establishing Independence Day, New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day as holidays in the District of Columbia. According to the Congressional Research Service, these were the first four congressionally designated federal holidays.
Other than the original four, the U.S. government has designated federal holidays for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, George Washington's birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veterans' Day.