Dress the United States in red, white and blue this 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, announcing 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. At first, some colonists celebrated their newly gained independence with mock funerals for Britain’s King George III, as a way to “symbolize” the end of the monarchy in the United States.
However, the tradition of holding a patriotic party became even more widespread after the War of 1812 – according to the Library of Congress – in which the United States again faced off against Great Britain.
In 1870, the 4th of July was officially declared a federal holiday, and it was not until 1941 when it was decided to grant a paid holiday to Government employees on that day.
A family celebration
Despite being an American holiday, millions of immigrants in the country join in the celebrations and traditions of the 4th of July.
Yudith López, a Cuban who was nationalized in the United States, told the Voice of America that the celebration of this day “pays tribute to the country that welcomed us eight years ago.”
Together with her husband, her son and her mother, who lives in Cape Coral, in the state of Florida, every year they make time to go to the beach and enjoy the fireworks. “It is a very beautiful moment where people of different origins come together to greet this great nation,” López concluded.
The hot stars in 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 rethink their plans to celebrate.
More than 100 million people across the US are under heat warnings through Sunday, and cities on the East Coast were bracing for the highest temperatures as the heat dome causing the dangerous conditions, expanding towards the west coast.
Nearly 64% of U.S. travelers say rising local temperatures are causing them to seek vacation spots with milder temperatures, according to data from travel booking site Booking.com.
In cities like the capital Washington, where the National Independence Day Parade takes place, in the days leading up to the celebration, temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius were recorded, with a wind chill of more than 40 degrees.
Vacation to travel
Unlike some Latin American countries, where holidays occur frequently, in the United States there are only 11 dates when workers are off and students do not attend class. 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 their homes for Independence Day, and the Transportation Security Administration expects more than 32 million people to be screened at airports as of Thursday. this to July 8, 5.4% more than last year’s figures.
Experts recommend leaving early for your destination to ensure you have enough time to arrive or go through airport security. In addition, they urge you to pay attention to the weather at your destination to avoid surprises.
[Con información de Reuters y Associated Press]
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