Fourth of July – Happy Birthday, America!

Independence Day Celebration in Centre Square, Philadelphia
(a depiction of the celebrations of July 4th 1819, by John Lewis Krimmel)

The Fourth of July is a national holiday in the United States of America, annually observed to commemorate a very important occasion, the claiming of the country’s independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. With the inception of democracy across the nation, the Fourth of July later became popularly known as the birthday of America. It has since become a tradition to mark this celebration with pompous events such as parades, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, athletic games, reunions and most of all, grandiose fireworks displays in many public areas in every state.