Party Planning and More…

The official Summer Solstice may be a couple of weeks behind us, but to many, the Fourth of July marks the unofficial shift into the heart of the season. Synonymous with fireworks, cookouts, and celebrations with family and friends, it’s one of the most relaxed and festive occasions of the year.

If you’re like millions of other Americans, you’ll most likely commemorate the Fourth by slapping a few burgers on the grill, stringing up some patriotic party decorations, and settling into a lawn chair with a cold beverage or two. But how often do you think about the true significance of the holiday? Sure, we all have a vague perception of the Fourth being tied to the freedoms we enjoy as Americans–hence its oft-used moniker “Independence Day”–but as another star-spangled celebration approaches, we thought a quick history refresher may be in order.

History & Significance of the Fourth

Independence Day was created to commemorate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776. The Declaration officially asserted the freedom of the original thirteen American colonies from the kingdom of Great Britain. Penned by Thomas Jefferson, the document was signed by all of the delegates of the colonies, including John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress. After a somewhat anticlimactic reception, the document grew in prominence over the years, and today it serves as a highly respected symbol of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

Early Observances

The earliest observance of the Fourth of July took place in 1777, the year after the adoption of the Declaration, when thirteen guns were fired at sunrise and sunset in Bristol, Rhode Island. Other commemorations were very similar to the modern-day activities we indulge in today: dinners, parades, fireworks, music, and the display of red, white, and blue bunting and decorations. Respected national leaders, such as George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, used the holiday as an occasion to deliver stirring political speeches, hold tributes for American soldiers, and host extravagant dinners.

Independence Day was first recognized as an official state celebration in 1781, voted so by the Massachusetts legislature. It wasn’t until nearly a century later, in 1870, when the Fourth was declared a national holiday for all government employees. In 1941, it was changed to a paid federal holiday for all U.S. workers.

Unique Ways to Celebrate

In the more than two centuries since the Declaration of Independence asserted America’s freedom, the events surrounding the Fourth of July have focused on the same core festivities: cookouts, fireworks, music, picnics, and parades, all of which comprise the essence of summer. We aren’t proposing fixing what’s not broken, but if you’re looking for a more unconventional way to commemorate Independence Day this year, we invite you to check out these unique ideas:

• Play a patriotic CD. Trade in modern-day music for a traditional medley of star-spangled tunes. Crowds can’t help but sing along to stirring favorites as The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and America the Beautiful. For more contemporary tastes, there are many modern-day remixes available of these classic songs.
• Let them eat cake! Making a flag cake is easy. Bake a large, one-layer sheet cake using white cake mix, and then cover it with a base layer of white icing. Next, use red and blue decorative icing to draw the stars and stripes.
• Throw a block party. Canvass the surrounding houses to gauge the neighbors’ interest in participating in a street-wide celebration. You only need a few families to make it worthwhile. Ask each household to volunteer to bring something to contribute, such as a folding table, an entrée or dessert, or a fun game for the kids to play. If there’s a great deal of interest, you may even consider hiring a band and requesting permission to officially close down the street for the party.
• Extend the red, white, and blue theme. One fun idea is to fill an ice tray with red, white, and blue colored drinks and freeze them overnight. At your party, you can use these patriotic ice cubes to keep drinks chilled. Other easy ways to incorporate the theme into party fare is to serve strawberries and blueberries with whipped cream and make red, blue, and white Jell-O shots.
• Throw a presidential costume party. Encourage guests to come dressed as their favorite president or political figure from the annals of American government. The props and possibilities are limitless: George Washington’s wig, Abe Lincoln’s beard and hat, Ronald Reagan masks, Martha Washington’s colonial dress, and more.
• Set your nighttime party glowing. When the sun sets, create a luminous venue with glow sticks, twinkling white lights, tiki torches, and sparklers. Scented candles in red, white, and blue combine patriotic colors with pleasing fragrances.

No matter how you decide to celebrate the Fourth of July, don’t lose sight of what the holiday signifies: a celebration of our country’s rich history and heritage, diverse communities, and above all, the liberties our founding fathers worked so diligently to obtain.