4th of July... Then and Now

The 4th of July, or Independence Day, is the national holiday par excellence. A day where the American identity and the Americans themselves take out their flags and take to the streets to proudly celebrate their country's day. Many of these celebrations have been going on since 1776 when the independence of all the colonies that still belonged to the British crown was achieved; however, many other celebrations are more modern and cover other aspects of American society. 

With the arrival of summer, Americans prepare for the 4th of July holiday as eagerly as they do every year. Gathering with family, decorating your home, and attending parades are some of the most well-known American traditions. Being with your friends and family, having a barbecue, and proudly displaying your flag are some of the activities that American society has been dedicated to celebrating since 1776. However, we have to ask ourselves, has it been this way since the beginning, have the traditions and the way of looking at the holidays changed, and how much weight do the traditions carry today?

It is clear that the 4th of July marked a before and after in the history of the country, but to better understand the position of Americans, we must know about this holiday, its origins and why it is so relevant.
The dominion of the British Empire reached the American continent and the American colonies were totally controlled by the Anglo-Saxon country. 13 of the American colonies had no representation in Parliament, which led to a state of dissatisfaction and rebellion on the part of the colonists. However, their intention was to resolve the problem without military conflict and achieve independence through legal separation and agreement on both sides. After a long process and many attempts to achieve independence, on June 11 1776 a draft of the Declaration of the Independence was written, on the 2nd July 1776 the Vote of the Independence took place and finally on July 4 of the same year the Declaration of the Independence of the United States was proclaimed. 

In this video, you will know more about the process of the Independence

The same day that Independence was proclaimed, thousands of people took to the streets, and since then it was agreed that this day would be celebrated with parades, shows, sports, bonfires... Something that has not changed much throughout history, because today such events are still celebrated.

It is recorded that the first official celebration was the year after achieving Independence. In 1777, thousands of people took to the streets of Philadelphia to celebrate. The parades we know today have been celebrated since 1785 when the first 4th of July parade was held in Bristol, Rhode Island. Even George Washington participated in traditions that resemble those of today. When he handed out rum to his soldiers and joined them for a gala dinner, it resembles the family meals and dinners that Americans celebrate every Fourth of July today; he also ordered a celebratory cannonade, reminiscent of the numerous fireworks displays that take place in America's most popular cities.

A July 4th, 1819 celebration depicted at Philadelphia’s Centre Square in a John Lewis Krimmel painting. Source: Wikipedia

The way Americans celebrate independence hasn't changed much. In fact, the traditions are rooted in the history that marked those Americans who won the country's Independence. The shared meals, the fireworks, the decorations have been around since the beginning and are a hallmark of American culture and the 4th of July. 

Author: Laura Carnicero Herrero