The Fourth of July holiday, also known as Independence Day, is in just a few days. Most people think of it as the traditional American summer holiday for picnics, barbecues, and fireworks. Although there are these activities (see later in this article), it was originally the day to celebrate the United States’ independence from England. Some people might think of it as the end of the Revolutionary War, but it is actually the day that the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. The Revolutionary War didn’t end until eight years later.

By the mid-1700s, the American colonists had grown increasingly unhappy with their situation of “taxation without representation,” having to pay taxes to the King of England without any representation in Parliament. It was this unrest that spurred the famous “Boston Tea Party.” In 1773, King George III had put a tax on tea. In protest, colonists dressed up as Native Americans and emptied a cargo of tea into Boston Harbor. British soldiers shot and killed a few of them and it was dubbed “The Boston Massacre.”

In June of 1776, the Continental Congress was urged to declare independence. A committee was formed, including Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, to draft such a document. After several revisions, the Continental Congress adopted the final draft in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. Copies were made to be distributed. The first public reading was held on July 8 in Philadelphia’s Independence Square, accompanied by ringing bells and music. This practice was repeated in many other towns where the document was read. On July 19, the Continental Congress officially ordered the Declaration to be signed by members. It took until August 2 for delegates to begin signing.

On the first anniversary, July 4, 1777, Philadelphia had an official celebration, adjourning the Continental Congress, and people rang bells, had bonfires, fireworks, lighted candles, and ships fired guns. In 1778, General George Washington provided his troops with a double allowance of rum and ordered a Fourth of July artillery salute. The first official state celebration was in Massachusetts in 1781.

In 1801, the White House held the first public reception for the Fourth of July. On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter, replying to an invitation to the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Washington, D.C., “For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.” In 1870, Congress established Independence Day as an official holiday. In 1938 they confirmed it as a holiday with full pay for federal employees.

So now that we know why we celebrate this holiday, what is there to do? The biggest event in town that day is Macy’s fireworks display. The FDR is closed to traffic at 7:00 p.m., from 42nd Street to 14th Street, and from the ferry terminal to Pearl Street. It pays to get there early! At 7:30 p.m. FDNY fireboats will sail between 23rd and 42nd Streets, spraying arcs of red and blue water up to 300 feet in the air. Set off from three barges on the East River by the Grucci family, the fireworks usually start around 9:30 p.m., right after sunset. The best place to watch is the FDR Drive, although it can be seen from anywhere in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens with an unobstructed view of the East River and the harbor (yes, that includes this campus). There is musical accompaniment on 1010 WINS AM radio. The Circle Line has cruises with great views of the fireworks, plus food and music.

One traditional event on the Fourth of July is Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The 91st annual gastronomic competition, with 20 international finalists, begins at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn. See if five-time champion Takeru Kobayashi, from Japan, can beat his record of 53 and half hot dogs. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, at 46th Street and 12th Avenue will be starting a new exhibition, Heroic Journeys: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories, starting at 11:00 a.m. Roosevelt Island has a Family Festival. For $18, you can enjoy food by Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, or bring your own. This no-alcohol event, starting at 5:00 p.m., also has activities for the kids, and live bands. Then watch the fireworks from the southern tip of the island. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.rioc.com/ or at the festival entrance. Other local celebrations are held in Chinatown, Battery Park, and Fulton Street. On July 5 and 6, The New York Philharmonic has annual Independence week concerts—Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue—with compositions by Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein, and others. Tickets range from $19 to $49 and can be purchased at Avery Fisher Hall.

More information about these and other events can be found at http://www.newyorkled.com/.