美国国庆节

IndependenceDayisregardedasthebirthdayoftheUnitedStatesasafreeandindependentnation.MostAmericanssimplycallitthe"FourthofJuly,"onwhichdateitalwaysfalls.

TheholidayrecallsthesigningoftheDeclarationofIndependenceonJuly4,1776.Atthattime,thepeopleofthe13BritishcolonieslocatedalongtheeasterncoastofwhatisnowtheUnitedStateswereinvolvedinawaroverwhattheyconsideredunjusttreatmentbythekingandparliamentinBritain.Thewarbeganin1775.Asthewarcontinued,thecolonistsrealizedthattheywerefightingnotjustforbettertreatment;theywerefightingforfreedomfromEngland''''srule.TheDeclarationofIndependence,signedbyleadersfromthecolonies,statedthisclearly,andforthefirsttimeinanofficialdocumentthecolonieswerereferredtoastheUnitedStatesofAmerica.

Itisadayofpicnicsandpatrioticparades,anightofconcertsandfireworks.TheflyingoftheAmericanflag(whichalsooccursonMemorialDayandotherholidays)iswidespread.OnJuly4,1976,the200thanniversaryoftheDeclarationofIndependencewasmarkedbygrandfestivalsacrossthenation.

IndependenceDay2001commemoratedthe225thanniversaryofthesigningoftheU.S.DeclarationofIndependence.