The United States is dressed in red, white and blue on Thursday to celebrate Independence Day. Millions of people gather at parties, barbecues and parades to commemorate one of the most important dates in the country: the 4th of July.
This day commemorates the events of 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted, proclaiming the separation of the United States from Great Britain and thus giving birth to the nation.
The holiday has taken on different meanings over the years. In its early days, some colonists celebrated their newly won independence with mock funerals for British King George III, as a way to “symbolize” the end of the monarchy in the United States.
However, the tradition of holding a patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812 – according to the Library of Congress – when the United States once again faced Great Britain.
In 1870, July 4 was officially declared a federal holiday, and it was not until 1941 that government employees were granted paid vacation on this day.
Family celebration
Despite being an American holiday, millions of migrants in the country join in the celebrations and traditions of the 4th of July.
Yudith López, a Cuban naturalized in the US, told the Voice of America that celebrating this day is “paying tribute to the country that welcomed us eight years ago.”
Together with her husband, her son and her mother, with whom she lives in Cape Coral, Florida, every year they make time to go to the beach and enjoy the fireworks. “It is a very nice moment in which people of different origins come together to salute this great nation,” concluded López.
The heat is the star of the party
Outdoor parades are a traditional part of Fourth of July celebrations in the United States. However, high summer temperatures may cause citizens to reconsider their party plans.
More than 100 million people across the U.S. are under heat warnings through Sunday, and cities across the East Coast were bracing for record temperatures as the heat dome causing the dangerous conditions is expanding toward the West Coast.
Nearly 64% of U.S. travelers say rising local temperatures are prompting them to seek out vacation spots with more pleasant temperatures, according to data from travel booking site Booking.com.
In cities like Washington, the capital, where the National Independence Day Parade takes place, temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius and a wind chill of more than 40 degrees were recorded in the days leading up to the celebration.
A holiday to travel
Unlike some Latin American countries, where holidays occur frequently, in the United States there are only 11 dates when workers are free and students do not attend classes. Therefore, every holiday is an opportunity to travel to other destinations.
Millions of Americans are expected to be preparing to leave their cities, which means busy roads and crowded airports and train stations.
The AAA motor club projects that about 70.9 million travelers will head to destinations 50 miles or more from home for Independence Day, while the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 32 million people at airports from Thursday through July 8, up 5.4 percent from last year.
Experts recommend leaving early for your destination to ensure you have enough time to arrive or go through security at airports. They also urge you to be aware of the weather at your destination to avoid surprises.
[Con información de Reuters y Associated Press]
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Add Comment