Independence Day in the United States
When is Independence Day in United States?
Independence Day in United States is on July 4, 2024. It falls on Thursday.
How many days until Independence Day in United States?
There are 69 Days left until Independence Day in the United States.
Is Independence Day a public holiday in United States?
Independence Day is a federal holiday celebrated annually every 4th of July in the United States. It is oftentimes called “Fourth of July” or “July 4th”. This holiday is observed to commemorate the United States’ Declaration of Independence in 1776.
As a national holiday, most businesses would close for the day along with public establishments like government offices, post offices, and educational institutions. Independence Day is currently one of America’s biggest holidays and most of the people spend it outdoors together with their families and friends.
Independence Day Origin
Majority of the countries around the world celebrate their own Independence Day. For these countries, Independence Day is celebrated on the day they acquired sovereignty and independence from their foreign colonizers.
When did United States declare Independence?
Since 1607, Americans have been under the British rule until the 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain on year 1776. Originally, United States congress had voted to declare their independence on July 2nd, however, it was only two days after when it was officially declared. The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 became the basis for the commemoration of the country’s Independence Day. It is the anniversary of its declaration of national freedom from the British colonizers.
The Declarations’ first public reading was held in Philadelphia, the largest city of Pennsylvania. The celebration specifically took place in Philadelphia’s Independence Square. This historic event was accompanied with bands, fireworks, bonfires, and bells.
Independence Day Traditions
Since the country’s Independence Day falls during its summer months, it is common for a lot of people to spend it outdoors. Most Americans spend this holiday by going on picnics, watching sporting events (like baseball games), enjoying fireworks displays, and attending parades and concerts that highlight patriotic music.
Independence Day Parades
Every fourth of July, Independence Day parades are traditionally organized by towns and cities throughout the country. These parades are accompanied by marching bands, colorful floats, antique cars, and dancers in varied costumes. Washington DC, Rhode Island, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon are few areas in the United States which feature the biggest and best Fourth of July parades each year. For many Americans, attending these events is one of the best ways to celebrate the day. Parade-goers often don on outfits that represent the colors of the American flag – red, white, and blue. Some of them would even dress up their pets for the holiday. Additionally, other public events or ceremonies are also held where important figures from the government deliver political speeches related to the celebration.
Patriotic symbols and decorations
Music and the displays of patriotic symbols are prevalent on this day. The most common symbols include the American flags, eagle, Statue of Liberty, and hats, among others. There are many Americans who would decorate their homes or backyards with flags, colorful banners, and balloons to mark the day’s celebration. Salute to the union is also practiced during the holiday. Salute to the union is a salute of one gun for each state in the United States fired at noon of July 4th by the designated military base.
Fireworks Displays
In the United States, the 4th of July highlights numerous fireworks-displays. It has become a customary practice for many Americans to gather with their families and friends on this day and watch these displays together. Since these events occur in the evening, public areas like parks, fairgrounds, or town squares often get crowded with people at nighttime. The displays of fireworks are usually accompanied with the country’s national anthem – ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’, along with other patriotic songs such as God Bless America, America The Beautiful, and others.
Traditional Foods
Family get-togethers are typical during the celebration. A lot of Americans tend to spend this day through barbecues and picnics with the company of their families and friends. Traditional holiday foods enjoyed should include hotdogs, hamburgers, potatoes, baked beans, and desserts graced with designs representing the colors of the American flag.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | July 04 | Thursday | Independence Day |
| 2025 | July 04 | Friday | Independence Day |
| 2026 | July 04 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 2027 | July 04 | Sunday | Independence Day |
| 2028 | July 04 | Tuesday | Independence Day |
| 2029 | July 04 | Wednesday | Independence Day |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Mother's Day | May 12, 2024 |
| Memorial Day | May 27, 2024 |
| Father's Day | June 16, 2024 |
Download or print free 2024 calendar which includes the list of holidays in United States. Free holiday calendar templates in more than 130 countries are provided in PDF, Excel, and Microsoft Word format. For those who like to get a calendar that starts on Monday, we also have ISO calendar.
The April 2024 monthly calendar for the United States shows the holidays for the month, which is helpful in planning schedule and events in reference to the upcoming holidays in the US. It is available in PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel formats. You may select your preferred orientation and preferred start of week since we have Monday start calendar or Sunday start calendar.
If you are looking to print or download just a list of holidays in United States for the year 2024, we have that available in PDF, Word and Excel formats. This can be helpful for those who like to keep track of the holidays, be it for travel, work or any other purposes. It is free to use, just like the rest of our templates.