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Observance
* In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
* In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.
* In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
* In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".
* In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.
* In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.
* In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
* In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday. Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people. Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (
Customs