For many Americans, the Fourth of July is a day of vacation and a time to picnic and barbecue with family and friends — but many people don’t know the facts behind some of the Fourth of July’s biggest traditions.
Fireworks
Fireworks are an American tradition dating back to 1777. Today, there are around 16,000 Independence Day firework celebrations every year. John Adams, 2nd President of the United States, wrote to his wife, Abigail, that Independence Day should be celebrated with
… Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
Taking a cue from John Adams’ call for “Bonfires and Illuminations,” Congress in Philadelphia, adjourned to light up the night with fireworks. The Philadelphia Evening Post reported that on July 4th, 1777,
… at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated…
Boston saw its own Fourth of July fireworks display in 1777. Colonel Thomas Crafts of the Sons of Liberty reportedly
…illuminated his park on the commons, threw several shells, and exhibited a number of fireworks.
In 1783, Boston was the first city to designate July 4 as an official holiday. The tradition of Fourth of July fireworks to celebrate Independence day spread as the country grew.
Fourth of July fireworks
The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) says that today, Americans spend almost $1.4 billion on fireworks each year for displays and backyard use. In 2019, people used 273 million pounds of fireworks on the Fourth of July! 99% of Independence day fireworks are imported from China.
The APA estimates that small towns spend between $8,000–$15,000 for a fireworks display. Larger displays can cost millions of dollars.
- The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular costs more than $2.5 million.
- Macy’s fireworks show in New York City uses more than 75,000 fireworks shells and costs about $6 million.
Firework displays cause Ohh’s, Ahh’s, and injuries. They accounted for 7,300 firework-related emergency room visits in 2019. The CPSC also reports that:
- Fireworks related ER visits include Burns, 57%, and Eye injuries 19%.
Men are far more likely (66%) than women (34%) to suffer a fireworks-related injury.- Children younger than 15 years old accounted for 36% of fireworks-related injuries.
- Almost half of the fireworks-related injuries were to individuals younger than 20 years of age.
Fourth of July Barbecues
Barbecue is the most famous 4th of July food tradition is the all-American barbecue, which brings many American families and friends together around a grill. The 4th of July is the country’s most popular grilling day. This year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts Americans will spend around $6.5 billion on food to celebrate the Fourth of July. This included food and other cookout expenses, averaging out to about $77.00 per person participating in a barbecue, outdoor cookout, or picnic. Spending peaked in 2017, at $7.15.
European colonists barbecued large animals over a pit. A style they adapted from native Americans. The tradition of grilling out didn’t get going in earnest until the early 1800s. Barbeque’s popularity spread as political leaders began staging rallies to mark Independence Day and drew crowds by staging massive feasts featuring whole pigs and oxen.
By the 19th century, America was a little more established and politics started going full swing. Political leaders would host rallies, gathering people to hear their opinions by hosting massive barbecues. This move was especially popular with the Democrats in the southern states where these rallies would be held on Independence Day, which was not yet a National Holiday. Local farmers donated meat and simple food was served; sliced cucumbers, watermelon, early harvest vegetables, and fresh bread.
The Salt Lake Herald, September 20, 1888, described one such event.
CINCINNATI September 19
There were 600 people at the Erlanger barbeque eight miles south
of here to see Speaker Carlisle and Senator Blackburn and hear
them speak ... The barbeque consisted of four carcasses of
oxen twenty four carcasses of sheep and no end of chickens also
of 100 gallons of soup that had been cooking three days and
2000 baskets of bread ...
The Maysville KY Evening Bulletin, September 03, 1892, describes another event.
Herndon, Ky. Sept. 3.
General Adlai Stevenson was welcomed to the scene of his
birthplace yesterday by 6,000 people who had ... and in order
that the Democratic gathering should not suffer from hunger,
an enormous barbeque was prepared. Fifteen sheep aim one
hundred hogs were sacrificed...
The political barbecue tradition continues to this day.
Hot dogs
You can’t have a barbecue without the classic hot dog. On the Fourth of July each year, Americans eat an estimated 150 million hot dogs. 150 million hot dogs laid out horizontally, would stretch from Washington, DC, to LA more than five times.
The sausage has been around for a long time. Even Homer’s Odyssey makes mention of sausage. How sausages become hot dogs in the U.S. is open for debate immigrants brought sausages to America. However what is know is that in 1916, Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker opened Nathan’s Famous hot stand in Coney Island NY.
The Coney Island location is home to the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. According to legend, the contest started in 1916, when a group of recent U.S. immigrants settled a bet about who was the most patriotic by seeing who could eat the most hot dogs.
The contest results weren’t officially recorded until 1972. Since 1972. The event is now so big that it’s broadcast on ESPN. The reigning champ, Joey Chestnut set the world record for most hot dogs eaten in 2020 when he scarfed down 75 hot dogs (and buns!) in 10 minutes. To win the mustard belt for the thirteenth time.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.