4th of July is the Independence Day of USA. The country became free from the British Empire way back in 1776. The event took place in such a distant past that 4th of July has become symbolic in nature and an occasion for merrymaking and fireworks around the country. This is one day in a year when Americans show to the world what it means to be free in every sense of the term. With fun and frolic in the air, this article presents some of the fun facts associated with this day to make for an interesting reading.
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- America may be the sole superpower of the world, but you would be surprised to know that it imports fireworks to celebrate its independence day. In 2011 alone, US purchased fireworks from China worth more than @200 million.
- Independence Day is a day when potato consumption by the people increases manifold with most American attracted to the saltiness of potato chips and wafers. It is said that this root also helps in making the mood of the eater a bit lighter.
- It is normally seen that the country gaining independence does not enjoy warm relations with its erstwhile ruler. But in the case of US, this is certainly not the case with trade with UK standing a more than $100 billion indicating its special relationship with US.
- 4th of July has not been a National Holiday since 1776. It became so from 1941.
- The only US President to have been born on 4th of July is Calvin Coolidge. He is also known as Silent Cal and Cool
Cal.
- Americans purchase a whopping 700 million pounds chicken before 4th of July to celebrate the day with some delicious chicken recipes. They also consume nearly 150 million hot dogs on this day.
- The words liberty and independence are valued highly by Americans. This is reflected in the fact that there are more than 30 towns and cities in the country having liberty in their name.
- Americans love to wave their national flag more than anything else on Independence Day. This fact is reflected in the purchase of US flags from China worth more than $3 million.
- 50 flags are flown full mast whole day long on 4th of July in Washington DC at the Washington Monument.
- A visit to a national park or a historic site is a ritual that many Americans observe on every Independence Day. In a recent year, more than 72 million people paid a visit to various national parks while some 24 million went to visit historical monuments
- The 13 colonies actually voted for independence from British rule on 2nd of July and not on 4th of July. But all the debating continued till 4th of July when the draft resolution was finally passed thus making 4th of July as the official date of independence. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were among those who prepared the draft resolution.
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