Independence Day (United States)

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

Background

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.^[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch 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 commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.

 In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, the Fifth President of the United States, died on July 4, 1831. Calvin Coolidge, the Thirtieth President, was born on July 4, 1872, and thus was the only President to be born on Independence Day.

Unique or historical celebrations

• Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
• Since 1912, the Rebild Society, a Danish-American friendship organization, has held a July 4^th weekend festival that serves as a homecoming for Danish-Americans in the Rebild section of Denmark.
• Since 1916, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.
• Since 1959, the International Freedom Festival is jointly held in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario during the last week of June each year as a mutual celebration of Independence Day and Canada Day (July 1). It culminates in a large fireworks display over the Detroit River.
• Numerous major and minor league baseball games are played on Independence Day.
• The famous Macy's fireworks display usually held over the East River in New York City has been televised nationwide on NBC since 1976. In 2009, the fireworks display was returned to the Hudson River for the first time since 2000 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of that river.
• Since 1970, the annual 10 kilometer Peachtree Road Race is held in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The Boston Pops Orchestra has hosted a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade called the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" annually since 1973. The event was broadcast nationally from 1987 until 2002 on the A&E Network, and has aired since 2003 on CBS.
• On the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., “A Capitol Fourth,” a free concert, precedes the fireworks and attracts over half a million people annually. 

Father's Day

Father's Day or Father's Day is a day of commemoration in which the father takes place within the family.

Some history

In Spain and most nearly all countries, Father's Day is March 19 to mark the feast of St. Joseph, the father of Jesus. But in the U.S. and most countries in the Americas, this holiday is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. This is mainly an American lady named Sonora Dodd. In 1909 she made this proposal as it wished there was a special day to honor her father, William Dodd, a veteran of the Civil War who was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to her sixth child. Alone and without support, assumed the task of raising and educating their six children on a farm in eastern Washington state.

Traditions

Germany

In Germany, there are two celebrations associated with Father's Day. On the one hand Vatertag held on 21 May, Ascension Day of Jesus and is a national holiday. On the other hand, is a traditional celebration Herrentag consisting of a trip just climbing a mountain men with carts with wine or beer and regional food (Leberwurst, Blutwurst, etc.).

Latin America

In most Latin American countries, as in the United States and Canada, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. On this day is celebrated uncles, grandparents and parents in general.

In Bolivia and Honduras, is celebrated on March 19, the day of San José by the Catholic tradition (the patron saint of carpenters), according to the Bible, St. Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus was a carpenter. In Brazil, however, is held every second Sunday of August in the Dominican Republic celebrated the last Sunday of July, and in Guatemala and El Salvador the feast is on 17 June.

           

Argentina

In Argentina, was celebrated for the first time on August 24, 1958, in honor of José de San Martín, called "Father of the Fatherland. " But then he changed the third Sunday in June, when we celebrate today.

United States

In America the first modern celebration of Father's Day is due to the idea of Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, who was attending a Mass to mark the day of the mother who had just celebrated two years, he decided to do another mass for honor his father, a Civil War veteran who was widowed by leaving five children and raising them in an exemplary manner. Originally the idea was that the Mass will be held on June 5, the birthday of Mr. Smart, but for the haste in preparing the date was decided to run for two weeks.

Thus, the first Father's Day was held in Washington on June 19, 1910. The voice had spread and people joined the celebrations. Masses were celebrated as a tribute to parents in other U.S. cities. Officially celebrated in the United States since 1924, when President Calvin Coolidge, declared as national holiday. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the 3rd. Sunday of June as the date for the celebration of Father's Day 

Holy Week

MEXICO:Holy Week in Mexico as in Colombia also celebrates the ordeal, but for example on Saturday of glory they keep a very old tradition as it is known to throw water to have even strangers to celebrate the glory has been opened a bath.

 

ESTADOS UNIDOS:in the United States is very common to us the celebration of Easter, but due to the high demand for immigrants with Catholic faith who have moved to this country have taken some traditions such as processions. Miami and Good Friday highlights the procession of the Virgin de la Esperanza Macarena.

                                                    

 ARGENTINA: During Holy Week the liquor stores are closed nationwide.Power consumption is seafood, since most of the inhabitantsbelong to the Catholic religion to respect the fasting andabstaining from red meat. Typically they prepare for thecelebrations bean tamales, honey, cauliflower, honey, sweet potato, taro and sweet pies chiverre.

The places of religious importance during the Holy Week celebrations are in Santo Domingo de Heredia, payingreverence to the image of Jesus Nazareno tercentenary of Solace, visited and venerated by the faithful and foreign,processions thrive in beautifully decorated and image loadedinto scaffolding on the streets of the city out of the Basilica de Santo Domingo. The image of Christ the Lord recalls tied in column (Wednesday), as Lord King of the taunts (Holy Thursday) and the Cross (Good Friday).
Good Friday is celebrated the solemn procession of the HolyBurial, the image of Christ is carried in a tomb with gold platingand crystals, accompanying him in procession the image ofOur Lady of Sorrows.

 

ITALIA: Processions in Sicily, Campania, Calabria and Apulia, mainly.Highlights the city of Enna, Trapani, Nocera Terinese, Sorrento,Molfetta, Messina and Taranto. In the north only on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Besides 

thecelebration of the Cross by Pope in the Vatican.

                                                       
                                                      

EUROPA: During this period are common processions, which paradeddifferent fraternities and sororities with images that may well beholding its mysteries steps or steps canopy. The celebration of Holy Week in Seville, Granada, Cartagena, Cáceres, Cuenca, Hellin, Leon, Lorca, Malaga, Medina de Rioseco, Salamanca,Valladolid, Zamora, Orihuela and the Procession of the Palms ofElche Easter are declared International Tourist Interest.

PERU: In Lima are old, traditional processions or "penitential Seasons"tothe Plaza Mayor, departing from the Good Friday until Easter Sunday processions of the various temples of the city, withextraordinary, varied and beautiful sculptures that show the stepsPassion and the Sorrows of the Virgin, works the glorious past that he received by being the most important city in colonial times. InAyacucho are celebrating the most famous of the territory, withAndean characteristics and traditions such as burning the litterthatch and decorated with ornaments of wax, being the mostfamous procession of the Encounter on Holy Wednesday andEaster Sunday the imposing anda cover Risen Christ candle.