Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate the Independence Day. This day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 by the Continental Congress. On this day 13 colonies laid down their claim to be independent from England. These colonies eventually formed the United States of America.
Here are a few curious facts about July 4.
• Though July 4, 1776 is believed to be the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, historians argue that it was actually signed on August 2, 1776. In fact, the Continental Congress had declared independence on July 2. On July 4, historians say, the Congress only managed to approve the wordings of the Declaration and that it was signed by only two members. But it was July 4, 1776 that was included on the handwritten copy of the Declaration and was consequently identified by people as Independence Day.
• On the 50th anniversary of the Declaration on July 4, 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both signers of the Declaration of Independence, died. They were the only signers who went on to become presidents of the United States. Another president James Monroe also died on July 4, 1831.
• The only president to have been born on the holiday was Calvin Coolidge, the 30th American president.
•The original draft of the declaration of independence was lost. An "engrossed" document was the eventually signed by the Congress.
•Though the holiday was celebrated from 1777, the Congress officially announced it as a holiday only in 1870. A bill was passed that year recognising major holidays like Christmas and New Year's Day.
• From 1870 to 1937, July 4 was an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
• Americans consume record number of hot dogs on July 4. Time magazine reported that Americans consume about 155 million hot dogs on this holiday, but are still not sure of the origin of this meaty snack.
• A lot is spent on the American flag on July 4 ($4.4 million according to usatoday.com). A vast majority of flags are imported from China ($4.3 million), so that American citizens can display their patriotism.
• Philippines observes July 4 as Republic Day, celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Manila, which granted Philippines Independence from the United States of America in 1946.
• Rwanda celebrates Liberation Day on July 4, commemorating the defeat of the genocide regime by the Rwandan Patriotic Front in 1994.
