Americans celebrate Independence Day every July 4. The holiday has become synonymous with summer fun, as grand fireworks displays and backyard barbecues are integral components of many people’s Fourth of July celebrations.
As Americans and residents of the United States prepare for some festive Fourth of July celebrations, they can keep these interesting facts related to Independence Day in mind:
• There have been many iterations of the American flag. The American flag has become an iconic symbol of freedom recognized across the globe since the United States declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776. But few July 4 celebrants may know that the current version is the 27th iteration of the American flag. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the current version of the flag officially became the flag on July 4, 1960.
• More than half of all Americans own an American flag. A 2023 poll from WalletHub found that 57 percent of Americans own an American flag. And that’s not the only way Americans show their national pride, as the same poll found that roughly one in three Americans intended to purchase patriotic merchandise for July 4.
• The United States is not the only place to celebrate American independence. Such celebrations occur in various countries, including Australia, Denmark, Ireland and Norway. The festivities in Rebild National Park in Denmark is believed to be the largest celebration of American independence outside the United States.
• The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that 150 million hot dogs are consumed on July 4. Though there’s no corresponding estimate related to how many hamburgers Americans eat on July 4, various reports suggest Americans eat roughly 50 billion burgers annually, so it’s fair to conclude many a burger will be consumed this Independence Day.
• July is a popular month for nations to celebrate their independence. In addition to the United States, various countries, including Algeria (July 5), Argentina (July 9), the Bahamas (July 10), Belarus (July 3), Burundi (July 1), Canada (July 1), Cape Verde (July 1), Colombia (July 20), Kiribati (July 12), and Liberia (July 26), celebrate their independence day in July.
• John Adams, a founding father of the United States and the second president in the country’s history, felt Americans should celebrate their independence from Great Britain on July 2. That’s because the Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776. However, the Declaration of Independence was not approved for two more days, thus making July 4 the day to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain.
