Independence Day, or the 4th of July, is probably the most important national holiday in the United States. It commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The declaration is a powerful statement of the American colonies’ intention to become an independent nation.
The Fourth of July was declared a legal holiday in 1941, and today it is celebrated each year in all states and territories of the United States. It is a reminder of the ideals on which the United States was founded, and on July 4 Americans celebrate their freedom and independence with great fanfare -- it is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks.
A display of fireworks illuminates the sky near the Statue of Liberty as seen from Jersey City, N.J. on July 4, 2004. Parents from throughout the State of New Jersey bring their children to Liberty State Park on July 4th to enjoy the Independence Day festivities and see the New York City fireworks. (© AP/WWP)
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