Did you know that from 2018 to 2019 it was estimated that Americans spent 1 billion dollars on fireworks? Fourth of July is a holiday celebrating the day the United States officially became its own nation. Fireworks make the 4th of July experience so much better. When you have big fireworks it gives you a lot more to look at and sparklers make it fun and pretty because they are something pretty and simple.

In 1781, Massachusetts became the first state to declare the 4th of July an official state holiday. We Didn’t Actually Declare Independence on the 4th of July. One of the greatest misconceptions about the 4th of July lies in the name and date. It is widely believed that America declared its independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. However, the official vote actually took place two days before and the “Declaration” was published in papers on July 4. Small towns in the U.S. typically spend between $8,000 and $15,000 on their fireworks displays. Historical sources say that George Washington gave his soldiers double rations of rum on July 4, 1778. Nowadays most adults celebrate Independence Day with beer and patriotic cocktails instead. Some people think the idea of marking major events with fireworks originated with Founding Father John Adams. In a letter to his wife and political advisor, Abigail, he suggested that “illuminations” be part of the future Independence Day celebrations, the first of which was held in 1777. However, fireworks had already been popular for centuries. King Henry VII’s wedding in 1486 included them, and Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign began in 1558, appointed a “Fire Master of England” to organize shows. Here’s to keeping spectacular traditions alive!

The fourth of July is a very unique and important holiday. Some food traditions, not just for my family but for most Americans are hot dogs and hamburgers or barbecues. In fact, more than 74 million Americans will plan to barbecue for this holiday. Just after the Revolution, Americans marked Independence Day with public dinners, and in the South, those dinners quickly grew into large outdoor barbecues. My family and I barbecue and cook hotdogs and hamburgers because it is really easy but it’s also delicious and you can make a lot and it will last you and your family a long time. Barbecues are my favorite. We have ribs, hamburgers, hotdogs, and sometimes steak. I love steak. It is a food we only have sometimes, so it makes it special. Sometimes on the 4th of July, my mom makes pozole or enchiladas (pozole is so good you should try it) pozole is a Mexican soup kind of dish and enchiladas is also a Mexican dish. We also have chips and dip, fruits, vegetables, popsicles, and other treats.

Fireworks are what make the 4th of July special and pretty. Firecrackers are certainly the most iconic, widely available, and popular form of fireworks. The tradition of fireworks on the 4th of July came from the 1777 celebration in Philadelphia. A ship fired a 13-gun salute to honor the 13 colonies, and the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks over Boston Common. I love the fireworks tradition. Sometimes we go out of town to go look at fireworks to buy and there is always firework shows too. They are super pretty. I also love being outside. it’s a great time to bond with your family and friends. Last year I was with my friend Chloe. We did face paint and body paint and we matched. We had a lot of fun, we went swimming and got to light some of the big fireworks.

Did you know John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826? If you don’t celebrate the Fourth of July, you should. It’s a great holiday and, honestly, it’s fun. I love the fireworks and the delicious food. If you don’t know who to celebrate with, just remember you can celebrate by yourself, with your friends, or with your family. It is a great holiday and a great time of year.