美国独立日

IndependenceDay(UnitedStates)Author:CHDContents1.Overview2.Background3.Customs4.Celebrations1.OverviewName:IndependenceDayAlsoCalled:TheFourthOfJulyObservedBy:UnitedStatesType:NationalSignificance:Thedayin1776thattheDeclarationofIndependencewasadoptedbytheContinentalCongressCelebrations:Fireworks,familyreunions,concerts,barbecues,picnics,parades,baseballgamesDate:July4theveryyearIndependenceDay(July4)isalegalholidaythroughouttheUnitedStates.Itisthenationaldaymarkingthebirthdayofthenation.ItisAmerica’smostimportantpatrioticholiday.ItisonJuly4,1776thattheUSContinentalCongressadoptedtheDeclarationofIndependence.Therearecolorfulandnoisyparades,fireworkdisplaysandbandconcerts.Americanflagscanbeseenoneveryfamilyhouseandpublicbuilding.Manypeopleenjoypicnics,barbecuesortripstothebeach.Somebringtheirchildrentovisitthebirthplaceofthenation——Philadelphia.2.BackgroundTheUnitedStatesDeclarationofIndependenceisthestatementadoptedbytheSecondContinentalCongressmeetingatthePennsylvaniaStateHouse(nowknownasIndependenceHall)inPhiladelphiaonJuly4,1776.July4wasn’tthedaytodeclareindependence.TheContinentalCongressapprovedthefinalwordingoftheDeclarationofIndependenceonJuly4,1776.They'dbeenworkingonitforacoupleofdaysafterthedraftwassubmittedonJuly2ndandfinallyagreedonalloftheeditsandchanges.TheCommitteeofFivewasateamoffivemenwhodraftedandpresentedtotheCongresswhatwouldbecomeAmerica'sDeclarationofIndependenceMembers:JohnAdams,RogerSherman,RobertLivingston,ThomasJefferson,BenjaminFranklin(Fromtheleft)Forthefirst15or20yearsaftertheDeclarationwaswritten,peopledidn’tcelebrateitmuchonanydate.AftertheWarof1812,theFederalistpartybegantocomeapartandthenewpartiesofthe1820sand1830sallconsideredthemselvesinheritorsofJeffersonandtheDemocratic-Republicans.PrintedcopiesoftheDeclarationbegantocirculateagain,allwiththedateJuly4,1776,listedatthetop.FederalistpartyDemocratic-RepublicanpartyThedeathsofThomasJeffersonandJohnAdamsonJuly4,1826,mayevenhavehelpedtopromotetheideaofJuly4asanimportantdatetobecelebrated.In1870,CongressfirstdeclaredJuly4tobeanationalholidayaspartofabilltoofficiallyrecognizeseveralholidays,includingChristmas.Furtherlegislationaboutnationalholidays,includingJuly4,waspassedin1939and1941.3.CustomsIndependenceDayisanationalholidaymarkedbypatrioticdisplays.Similartoothersummer-themedevents,IndependenceDaycelebrationsoftentakeplaceoutdoors.IndependenceDayisafederalholiday,soallnon-essentialfederalinstitutions(suchasthepostalserviceandfederalcourts)areclosedonthatday.Manypoliticiansmakeitapointonthisdaytoappearatapubliceventtopraisethenation'sheritage,laws,history,society,andpeople.InWashingtonDCthepresidenttraditionallyholdsopenhouseattheWhiteHouseandlargenationalbanquets.AsaluteofonegunforeachstateintheUnitedStates,calledasalutetotheunion,isfiredonIndependenceDayatnoonbyanycapablemilitarybase.Thearmymarkstheoccasionbyfiringathirteen-gunsaluteeveryyear,eachforoneofthethirteenoriginalstates.FamiliesoftencelebrateIndependenceDaybyhostingorattendingapicnicorbarbecue;manytakeadvantageofthedayoffand,insomeyears,alongweekendtogatherwithrelativesorfriends.Decorationsaregenerallycoloredred,white,andblue,thecolorsoftheAmericanflag.Paradesareoftenheldinthemorning,beforefamilyget-togethers,whilefireworksdisplaysoccurintheeveningafterdarkatsuchplacesasparks,fairgrounds,ortownsquares.ThenightbeforetheFourthwasoncethefocalpointofcelebrations,markedbyraucousgatheringsoftenincorporatingbonfiresastheircenterpiece.InNewEngland,townscompetedtobuildtoweringpyramids,assembledfrombarrelsandcasks.Theywerelitatnightfalltousherinthecelebration.Thecustomflourishedinthe19thand20thcenturiesandisstillpracticedinsomeNewEnglandtowns.IndependenceDayfireworksareoftenaccompaniedbypatrioticsongssuchasthenationalanthem,TheStar-SpangledBanner;GodBlessAmerica;AmericatheBeautiful;MyCountry,'TisofThee;ThisLandIsYourLand;StarsandStripesForever;and,regionally,YankeeDoodleinnortheasternstatesandDixieinsouthernstates.SomeofthelyricsrecallimagesoftheRevolutionaryWarortheWarof1812.4.CelebrationsBristolFourthofJulyParade,orBristolFourthofJulyCelebration(officiallyknownastheMilitary,CivicandFiremen'sParade),foundedin1785,isanationallyknownFourthofJulyparadeinBristol,RhodeIsland.TheparadeispartoftheoldestFourthofJulycelebrationintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.ACapitolFourthisafreeannualconcertperformedonthewestlawnoftheUnitedStatesCapitolBuildinginWashington,D.C.,incelebrationofIndependenceDayeachJuly4.TheconcertisviewedandheardbymillionsacrosstheUnitedStatesandtheworld,aswellasattendedbymorethanhalfamillionpeopleattheCapitol.ThefamousMacy'sfireworksdisplayusuallyheldovertheEastRiverinNewYorkCityhasbeentelevisednationwideonNBCsince1976.In2009,thefireworksdisplaywasreturnedtotheHudsonRiverforthefirsttimesince2000tocommemoratethe400thanniversaryofHenryHudson'sexplorationofthatriver.Since1868,Seward,Nebraska,hasheldacelebrationonthesametownsquare.In1979SewardwasdesignatedAmerica'sOfficialFourthofJulyCity-SmallTownUSAbyresolutionofCongress.Sewardisatowno