The Fourth of July: It’s a weekend of fireworks, barbecues, and hotdogs. This holiday is one many people anticipate, but there are probably a lot of fun facts about our nation’s birthday that you aren’t familiar with. Whether you call it Fourth of July, July 4th, or Independence Day, we wanted to give our readers some fun tidbits about this celebration. Drivers keep America moving forward, so around this time we always feel extra patriotic and appreciative of all truck drivers! In honor of the holiday, check out these fun facts.
Betcha didn’t know….
R.I.P. Founding Fathers
In a bizarre, though perhaps twist of fate, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826.
Biggest Hot Dog Holiday of the Year
July 4th is the biggest hot dog holiday of the year with Americans reportedly consuming about 155 million of them on this day alone, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council (yes, there is a National Hot Dog & Sausage Council.) That’s enough franks to stretch from L.A. to D.C. five times, with some left over.
Making It Official
It took nearly 100 years for Congress to make the Fourth of July an official holiday, despite the widespread celebrations that had been ringing in America’s birthday since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Americans began observing the Fourth of July at this time, but Congress didn’t make it official until 1870, when it was part of a bill passed to recognize major state holidays at a federal level.
Birthday Celebrations Abound
Calvin Coolidge, the country’s 30th President, was born on Independence Day. Others celebrating birthdays on July 4 include economist and mathematician Gérard Debreu, Olympic gold medalist and tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver, “Ugly Betty” actress Becki Newton, and current first daughter Malia Obama.
Happy Filipino Independence Day, Too
Americans aren’t the only ones marking this holiday. Thousands of miles away, on the opposite end of the Pacific, the Philippines have the Fourth of July on their calendars, as well. Or, they did for a while, anyway. July 4th, known as “Republic Day,” marks the date when the U.S. officially recognized the Philippines as an independent state in 1946. (However, though the day is still significant to Filipino history, June 12 has been the country’s official Independence Day since 1962.)
Turtle Soup Could Have Become Our Go-To July 4th Food
Though hot dogs, hamburgers, and french fries are typical Fourth of July treats nowadays, our Founding Fathers feasted on some pretty different foods to celebrate the country’s independence back in the day. As legend has it, on July 4, 1776, John Adams and his wife Abigail sat down for a celebratory meal of turtle soup, New England poached salmon with egg sauce, green peas, and boiled potatoes. Still thinking of barbecuing this holiday?
Tap, Tap, Tap
Due to concerns about cracking the iconic instrument, the Liberty Bell has not been rung since 1846 (the most famous crack in history when the zig-zag fracture occurred when the Liberty Bell rang for Washington’s birthday.) Instead, every year, to mark the Fourth of July, the 2,000-pound bell is tapped 13 times to signal for bells across the country to start ringing.
So no matter where you are this Fourth of July, you now have a tidbit or two to share with your pals on the big day! Prime wishes all of our employees, drivers, and their families a safe and happy July 4th!
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