Better Late than Never, Introduction to 4th of July

I'm sure that many of you have heard of Independence Day (otherwise known as "The Fourth of July" or "The Fourth"), but it's not likely that you are familiar with the holiday if you aren't from the states. So this is my little introduction to The Fourth.

Many believe that the fourth of July (1776) was the day that the US began its struggle for freedom from British rule, however the fighting for independence actually began earlier that year. It is also commonly assumed that the Declaration was signed by all of the Continental Congress on that day, but again this is incorrect, as the first published copy had only the signature of John Hancock (President of the Second Continental Congress). The Declaration was signed by all members on August 2nd. Thomas Jefferson thought that July 2nd would be the national holiday because that was the day that he wrote the Declaration of Independence, but it was rafitied on July 4th and for some reason that's the day that stuck with us.

Today the Independence Day is celebrated with picnics, parades and fireworks. Most cities have community events, but some people prefer to mark the occasion with a family gathering, which can result in a trip the the hospital with burns from amature firework displays.