Happy Birthday, America! - The Tradition of Fireworks on July 4th

One of the greatest highlights of every summer is the magic of 4th of July firework displays. The bright pops of color in the sky, paired with barbecues, all things red, white, and blue, plus friends and family, make for the perfect celebration.

Haven’t you always wondered why it’s a tradition to set off explosions of light in the sky on Independence Day? It’s certainly a day for celebration, but why fireworks? Well, the 4th of July’s history actually involves fireworks, and you can thank Founding Father John Adams for it.

During the first months of the Revolutionary War, after the 13 colonies had all voted in favor of independence from Great Britain, Congress began to write a declaration, which became the Declaration of Independence.  Before it was even finished and signed, an enthusiastic John Adams wrote his wife a letter about how he thought the occasion of America’s freedom should be celebrated.  

“The second day of July will be the most memorable event in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival…It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

 Adams was off by a couple of days.

On July 4, after making a total of 86 (mostly small) changes to Jefferson’s draft, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence though most of the delegates didn't even sign the document until August 2nd.

Adams’s hometown of Boston held its own fireworks display to celebrate its independence as the Sons of Liberty took the opportunity to set off fireworks and shells over Boston Common. In 1783, Boston was the first city to designate July 4th as an official holiday. In the years to come, various cities continued the tradition of celebrating independence, holding picnics, parades, speeches and fireworks displays for the occasion.

By the time Independence Day celebrations really took off after the War of 1812, fireworks were even more widely available. They would become an increasingly important part of the festivities in the years to come, as public safety concerns caused cannon and gunfire to be gradually phased out of celebrations.

In 1870, Congress established Independence Day as an official holiday.

May our country always flourish and celebrate many more years of independence. I hope you all enjoyed a blessed Independence Day.

My newest release, "Ainsley" - The Love Train Series Book 8 is now available on Amazon and Goodreads. Here is a video trailer giving you a peek about Ainsley MacKenzie and Lucas Harmon's love story.

https://youtu.be/kcw4_nQ6j_0

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FACTS AND TRIVIA ABOUT THE MONTH OF JULY By Cheri Kay Clifton

The origin of the word, July:  July is named after Roman Dictator, Julius Caesar (100 B.C.-44 B.C). Caesar developed the precursor to the Gregorian calendar we use today. 

The Declaration of Independence:  One of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.

The document was originally written by Thomas Jefferson, but Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, along with Jefferson then worked together to make the changes. The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, but the actual signing of the final document took place on August 2, 1776. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees. 

The first Independence Day celebration:  Actually took place on July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia. It featured a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, announced by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

Three U.S. presidents died on July 4th:  John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. In a strange twist of fate, Adams and Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the country they helped found.

Astrological fact:  July 5 is when Earth is the farthest it will get from the Sun for the entire year - specifically, we'll be 94,510,886 miles away from our bright star!

Birthstone: Ruby

Flower: Water Lily or Larkspur

Parents' Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July.

For all you western gals and guys:  National Day of the Cowboy is fourth Saturday in July.

For everyone who enjoys celebrating our Independence Day with family & friends, here is an easy and favorite dessert I like to make.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Yield:

1 9x13-inch cake

 Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 pint blueberries, rinsed and drained
• 2 pints fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced

Directions

• Step 1

Prepare cake according to package directions and bake in a 9x13 inch pan. Cool completely.

• Step 2

Frost cake with whipped topping. Place blueberries in a square in the corner, and arrange sliced strawberries as stripes to make an American flag. Chill until serving and Enjoy!

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A HISTORY OF OUR AMERICAN FLAG By Cheri Kay Clifton

On this, the 244^th year of our country’s Independence, I want to wish everyone a 
Safe, Healthy & Happy 4^th of July!

            Our first National Flag, the GRAND UNION FLAG, was displayed on January 1, 1776 in Boston by General George Washington, the organizer of the Colonial Army under the directive of the young Continental Congress.

For the colonists, the GRAND UNION FLAG signified their loyalty to the Crown of England and their New Union.

            The progress of the Revolution and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence soon outdated the symbolism of the GRAND UNION FLAG. On June 14,1777 the first congressional legislation creating an American flag was enacted.

“RESOLVED: that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be 13 stars white in a blue field representing a new constellation.”

Thus, was born a new Nation under the STARS AND STRIPES.

            The NEW CONSTELLATION FLAG with its 13 stars and 13 stripes, represented the original thirteen founding states of the Union: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

            Since the Flag Act of 1777 did not provide for the arrangement of the stars in the flag’s union, over 20-star designs have been documented for the NEW CONSTELLATION FLAG as being used in the eighteen-year period from 1777 through 1795.

This included the popular Betsy Ross design.

            January 13, 1794, President George Washington signed a bill that provided by Act of Congress, alterations in the Flag of the United States. The bill stated that on and after May1,1795, “the flag of the United States be fifteen stripes, alternate red and white and that the union of fifteen stars, white in a blue field.”

This SECOND NATIONAL FLAG recognized two new states that had been admitted into the Union, Vermont and Kentucky.

 This new flag also inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, and was our national flag for nearly a quarter of a century until the year 1818.

            On April 4^th, 1818, President James Monroe signed a bill into law as “An Act To Establish The Flag Of The United States” which provided for “a return to a flag of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and a Union to have twenty stars, white in a blue field.” This updated the flag to show the admission of additional five more states.

The Act also provided “That on the admission of every new State into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth of July succeeding such admission.”

            All succeeding design changes were due to the addition of stars to the flag’s union, upon admission of a new state to the Union.

The forty-eight star flag WAS THE LONGEST LIVED OF ALL THE Stars and Stripes with official status of 47 years, from 1912 to 1959. Eight American Presidents served in office under this flag and three wars were fought under its banner.

50-Star Flag

1960 — PRESENT

The design of the Stars and Stripes as the National Flag of the United States of America is one of the longest in the history of any country in the world.

Thanks for visiting Sweethearts of the West. I hope you'll check out my new release, 

Yesteryear's Destiny, an adventure-filled time-travel,

Book 3, Wheels of Destiny Trilogy

available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, iTunes, Apple and many other distributors.

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