July 4th is celebrated in the United StatesIndependence Day, i.e. Independence Day: that is, the country’s independence from the United Kingdom is celebrated, because on 4 July 1776 (exactly 250 years ago) the representatives of the thirteen British colonies, gathered in congress in Philadelphia, approved the Declaration of Independence.
Concrete independence from the British Empire was achieved a few years later, in 1783, when the war against the English homeland ended. The date of July 4th has been celebrated since 1777 and, over the years, the occasion has given rise to numerous popular traditions. Today the 4th of July is a public holiday and is celebrated not only with official ceremonies and fireworks, but also with picnics and trips out of town. The 2026 ceremonies promise to be particularly impressive, but they are also giving rise to controversy because, according to part of public opinion, they are used by President Trump for propaganda.
The 4th of July celebration in the United States
The 4th of July celebrationsIndependence Day they represent the main national holiday of the United States of America. The anniversary is linked to the American War of Independence: it should be remembered, in fact, that during the modern age the territory of what is now the United States had been occupied by European powers: the United Kingdom, France and Spain (in addition to Russian Alaska); large portions were controlled by the native population, the American Indians. The United Kingdom established 13 colonies, that is, 13 separate administrations, on the east coast.
In the 1760s the population of the 13 colonies came into conflict with the motherland, above all for fiscal reasons, and demanded greater autonomy. Attempts to find an agreement failed and in 1775 the war of independence began. On July 4 of the following year, the representatives of the 13 colonies, gathered in Philadelphia in the Second Continental Congress, unanimously approved the Declaration of Independence (signed already on July 2 by the majority of the delegates).
The Declaration of Independence of 1776: the history
The Declaration of Independence, written largely by Thomas Jefferson and approved on July 4, 1776, was based on the principles of the Enlightenment. It reads:
We hold it to be self-evident truths that all men are created equal; who have been endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that, among these rights, there are life, liberty and the pursuit of well-being. That to guarantee these rights, governments are established among men which derive their just power from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes antagonistic to the attainment of these purposes, the people have the right to modify and abolish it, and to create a new government.
The Declaration listed all the sins of the king of England, George III, towards the American colonies, concluding:
WE therefore, the representatives of the States of America, assembled in General Congress, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the universe as to the rectitude of our intentions, do solemnly declare and proclaim, in the name and by authority of the good peoples of these Colonies, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States. WE who are invested with the great responsibility in signing this Declaration pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
The war continued until 1783, when the United Kingdom, defeated militarily, recognized the independence of the United States.
July 4, 1776, therefore, did not represent the birth of the United States, but was the act of rupture necessary to achieve actual independence. Originally the country only extended over the territories of the eastern coast, but over the years it has expanded to include the current territory.
The origins and evolution of the celebrations
The date of July 4th immediately became an important anniversary in American “civil religion”. Already in 1777 celebrations were held in some cities, including Philadelphia. The following year George Washington, commander of the independence army (and future president), wanted a double ration of rum to be distributed to the soldiers on July 4th. Celebrations were held in various locations and also in American representations abroad.
However, in the first years after independence the occasion was not an official celebration throughout the country. It was in fact recognized only by a few states, the first of which was Massachusetts in 1781.
At a national level, the anniversary gained official recognition only in 1870, when Congress established July 4th as an unpaid holiday for public employees. In 1938 the law was updated and it was established that the day had to be paid.
Since then the anniversary has acquired ever greater importance. Every year it is celebrated with speeches by political authorities and with solemn ceremonies at national level and in individual states. Additionally, July 4th is a public holiday for workers in all non-essential services. For this reason, numerous popular traditions have established themselves over the years. One of the most common is to take advantage of the holiday to organize barbecues, picnics and outings: turkey, on the other hand, is a typical Thanksgiving dish, which is not cooked on the 4th of July.
Furthermore, it has been customary since the previous days for the streets to be filled with stars and stripes flags and other national symbols. Fireworks are also common in many places, sometimes launched after speeches by authorities and the sound of patriotic songs.
Independence Day 2026: celebrations for the 250th “birthday” of the United States
When the anniversary is a round figure, the celebration is even more solemn. In 1976, the two hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the ceremonies were particularly impressive and a large naval parade was also organized in New York Harbor, with historic and modern ships.
In 2026, the 250th anniversary of independence, solemn celebrations are planned. The White House formed a committee, Freedom 250, to organize the celebrations. Among the various events, the Great American State Fair opened to the public on June 25, a national exposition in Washington, which will last until July 10, 2026, with stands from the States and Union Territories.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Trump, but attracted much criticism because it is considered an installation functional to the president’s propaganda, to the point that some states refused to participate.
Among other initiatives, a mixed martial arts fight, UFC Freedom 250, was organized at the White House on June 16. On July 4, along with the fireworks celebrations, the naval parade will be held again in New York. Numerous other events are planned both at national level and in individual states. The inaugural flight of the new presidential Air Force One is also expected on July 4th.
