{"id":116831,"date":"2021-07-02T08:18:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T12:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/?p=116831"},"modified":"2021-07-02T08:18:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T12:18:05","slug":"top-three-fourth-of-july-2021-traditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/top-three-fourth-of-july-2021-traditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Fourth of July Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

\"Fourth<\/a>For many Americans, the Fourth of July is a day of vacation and a time to picnic and barbecue with family and friends \u2014 but many people don’t know the facts behind some of the Fourth of July’s biggest traditions.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Fireworks<\/h3>\r\n

\"Uncle<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Fireworks<\/strong> are an American tradition dating back to 1777. Today, there are around 16,000<\/a> Independence Day firework celebrations every year. John Adams<\/a>, 2nd President of the United States, wrote<\/a> to his wife, Abigail, that Independence Day should be celebrated with<\/p>\r\n

\u2026 Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Taking a cue from John Adams’ call for “Bonfires and Illuminations,” Congress in Philadelphia, adjourned to light up the night with fireworks.\u00a0The Philadelphia Evening Post reported<\/a> that on July 4th, 1777,<\/p>\r\n

… 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…<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Boston saw its own Fourth of July fireworks display in 1777.\u00a0 Colonel Thomas Crafts<\/a> of the Sons of Liberty<\/a> reportedly<\/a><\/p>\r\n

…<\/em>illuminated his park on the commons, threw several shells, and exhibited a number of fireworks.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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.<\/p>\r\n

Fourth of July fireworks<\/h3>\r\n

The American Pyrotechnics Association<\/a> (APA) says<\/a> that today, Americans spend almost $1.4 billion on fireworks<\/strong> each year for displays and backyard use. In 2019, people used 273 million pounds of fireworks<\/strong> on the Fourth of July! 99% of Independence day fireworks are imported from China.<\/p>\r\n

\"Fourth<\/p>\r\n

The APA estimates<\/a> that small towns spend between $8,000\u2013$15,000 for a fireworks display. Larger displays can cost millions of dollars.<\/p>\r\n