American Independence Day

American(əˈmerikən) Independence(ˌindəˈpendəns) Day

Independence Day, also referred(riˈfər) to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal(ˈfed(ə)rəl
) holiday in the United(yo͞oˈnītid) States commemorating(kəˈmeməˌrāt) the adoption(əˈdäpSHən) of the Declaration(ˌdekləˈrāSHən) of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental(ˌkäntnˈentl) Congress(ˈkäNGgrəs,ˈkän-) declared(diˈkle(ə)r) that the thirteen American colonies(ˈkälənē) regarded(riˈgärd) themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire(ˈemˌpī(ə)r). The Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2.

Independence Day is commonly associated(-SHē-,əˈsōsēˌātid) with fireworks, parades(pəˈrād), barbecues(ˈbärbiˌkyo͞o), carnivals(ˈkärnəvəl), fairs(fe(ə)r), picnics(ˈpikˌnik), concerts, baseball(ˈbāsˌbôl) games, family reunions(rēˈyo͞onyən
), and political(pəˈlitikəl) speeches and ceremonies(ˈserəˌmōnē), in addition to various(ˈve(ə)rēəs) other public and private(ˈprīvit) events celebrating(ˈseləˌbrāt) the history, government, and traditions(trəˈdiSHən) of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.

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Independence Day is a national holiday marked(märkt) by patriotic(ˌpātrēˈätik) displays. Similar(ˈsimələr) to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential(iˈsenCHəl) federal institutions (such as the postal(ˈpōstəl) service and federal courts(kôrt)) are closed on that day. Many politicians(ˌpäləˈtiSHən) make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise(prāz) the nation’s heritage(ˈheritij), laws, history, society(səˈsīətē), and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending(əˈtend) a picnic or barbecue; many take advantage(ədˈvantij) of the day off and, in some years, a long weekend to gather with relatives(ˈrelətiv) or friends. Decorations(ˌdekəˈrāSHən) (e.g., streamers(ˈstrēmər), balloons(bəˈlo͞on), and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades(pəˈrād) are often held in the morning, before family get-togethers, while fireworks displays occur(əˈkər) in the evening after dark at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares(skwe(ə)r
).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)