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SOME
FACTS AND HISTORY ABOUT INDEPENDENCE DAY (JULY 4TH)
On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence from Britain was
signed. To commemorate this historic occasion, Americans celebrate
this holiday each year. Celebrations usually include enjoying the
day with friends and family with barbeques, fun by the pool or beach, or
any number of activities. The culmination of the day is usually
spent watching firework displays (signifying our fight for independence). Side
note: It actually took a great deal longer for all of the delegates to
sign the actual Declaration, however, July 4th is recognized as the first
date most of the delegates signed, including the large bold signature of
John Hancock. |
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Independence
Day Facts and History
Independence
Day "Today in History" (Library of Congress):
Information on the history of this holiday including how it has been
celebrated since its inception.
4th
of July (Kids Domain):
Information on the holiday. Includes good links and information that
are good for kids.
Fourth
of July Celebration Database (James
R. Heintze): The purpose of this site is to
"bring together in one source selected examples of Fourth of July
celebrations that have occurred throughout our nation's history from 1776
to 2003."
Independence
Day: America's Birthday (Fourth-of-July-Celebrations.com):
Information and links about July 4th, its traditions
and related history.
Historical
Places
Phila.com:
The official website of Philadelphia - the city of brotherly love.
Many links and resources for those that live there, or those that want to
visit.
Related
Web Sites
Declaration
of Independence (National Archives): Information
and a look at the Declaration of Independence. Founding
Fathers (FoundingFathers.info):
Information and links relating to the Founding Fathers of the U.S. - the
people who made Independence Day even possible.
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This
is a day of celebration. Food and drink usually surround the day's
festivities. If it is a nice day there is nothing like a great
barbeque. If not, spending the day indoors celebrating with your
friends and family is always a great way to enjoy.
Going
to a BBQ/Party: Every July 4th, I seem to
go to a BBQ at a friends house. Every year I experience the same
dilema - what to bring to the party when the host says "just bring
yourself." You cannot bring food, however, you might be
able to bring drinks or dessert. A cheap way of bringing a platter
of cookies is to buy a platter at a 99 cents store with a few packages of
cookies from your local market. You can also purchase Gift Baskets
to bring, but you need to order it early.
If the people at the group are drinkers, you can bring them a nice bottle
of wine which is always welcome. If the host knows that their
guests are beer drinkers, they probably have the customary Budweiser or
Miller - so bring something from a smaller company like a local
microbrewery, or get something exotic.
Holding
a BBQ/Party: Give yourself and everyone else a
gift by providing great food. Find the best butcher in your neighborhood
and order their finest cuts of meat. Also have the best assortment
of drinks and side dishes for your guests. If you do not have a good
butcher near you, or do not know where to look, Omaha Steaks provides everything you need for a great BBQ.
Other
Gift Ideas: If you would like to get someone a
gift for Independence Day, we suggest that you give something with a
patriotic theme. Give gifts with the bald eagle, the American Flag,
something with historical significance or an American antiques.
Travel: The
travel place to go during this holiday season is Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. This is one of the birthplaces of our nation where the
Declaration of Independence was first signed and where America became a
nation. Then go to the New Jersey shores and enjoy the summer
weather on one of the many beautiful beaches. Another travel idea,
if you are on the east coast, visit one of the historical Revolutionary
War battlefields.
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