As the Fourth of July draws nearer, the annual commemoration of our declaration of Independence from Britain with our fellow citizens, Old Glory starts to pop up everywhere you look. Red, white, and blue are everywhere, and people start making plans to celebrate and see those famous Fourth of July fireworks. We’ve put together a list of Independence Day trivia that you can use to fill any awkward pauses in the conversation.
Check out our Reds, Whites, and Blends, innovative Twisted wines homegrown right here in the US of A that you can pair with those Fourth of July recipes at your barbecue!
And now, without further ado, some true-blue, all-American fun facts about the Fourth of July.
True or False: The Declaration of Independence was signed in July.
This one might seem like a slam dunk. But it’s actually false!
Yes, the Congress adopted the declaration on that famous day in July, 1776, and while John Hancock and the president of the Continental Congress Charles Thompson both signed the first draft, everyone else didn’t sign on until August, when they put their signatures on the official copy.
Fourth of July Fireworks–As American as Apple Pie (?)
When John Adams wrote in a letter that the US would celebrate Independence Day “with illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward, forevermore,” it’s likely he couldn’t have imagined how right he was.
Today, Americans spend $1 billion each July on around 628 million pounds of fireworks.
Apple pie, on the other hand, an iconic American dessert, actually finds its origins in the Netherlands. Eager to cast of the shackles of taxation without representation, colonists were looking to ditch their traditional English desserts (and understandably so, if you’ve ever experienced traditional English cooking).
Dutch pastries presented a handy alternative, and an American classic was born when it appeared in the very first American cookbook in 1796.
George Washington Knew How to Party
We all love a good summer cocktail. George Washington preferred to drink his celebratory libations straight, however, ordering that his troops’ rum rations be doubled when they were on campaign during the Revolutionary War, on the second anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
He also ordered an artillery salute. I mean, is there anything cooler than rum, big guns, and George Washington on the Fourth of July?
Americans Love a Good 4th of July Hot Dog
Of course, there’s the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, among our country’s most revered and dignified Independence Day traditions. But regular Joe and Jane Six-Pack love a good dog, as well. Forbes says Americans eat 155 million hot dogs each year on the Glorious Fourth.
How much do that many hot dogs cost? Nearly $105 million, just for the wieners. The buns are good for injecting another $70 million into the economy.
Which US President was Born on the 4th of July? And how many died on that day?
These are some good trivia nuggets you can brush off now and then.
Our 30th president, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth, Vermont on the 4th of July in 1872.
But, in an eerie coincidence, three US presidents died on Independence Day. They were:
- John Adams
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Monroe
Actually, Adams and Jefferson died on the same Fourth of July, in 1826. In an ironic twist of fate, John Adams’ last words were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives,” when in fact Jefferson had predeceased him by around five hours in Virginia.
Bonus fact: President Zachary Taylor didn’t die on the Fourth of July, but he did die as a result of a Fourth of July-related illness, when he contracted cholera after eating cherries at a celebration
The Fourth of July is a Federal Holiday, but It Took Almost a Century
Although it had been continually celebrated since the signing, the Fourth of July grew in importance as time went on, becoming an even bigger deal as part of a national flex when the US squared off against Great Britain again in the War of 1812.
Massachusetts was the first state to make the Fourth of July an official holiday. And the first White House celebration took place in 1801 under Thomas Jefferson.
However, Independence Day didn’t become a national, federally-recognized observance until 1870. It took over 70 more years for Congress to make it a paid holiday for federal employees.
Red, White, and Twisted With Z&M Wines
No matter what time of year, Z&M Twisted Wines pair well with celebrations!
If you’re grilling, we recommend our Hellfire Jalapeno Wine. It pairs great with a thick, juicy burger and pepper jack cheese!
Now, if you’re not sure what wine to get for an upcoming get-together, join us for a tasting. We’ll help you select just the right bottle for your barbecue menu.
Stop by our Leavenworth winery. In Lawrence? Come see us at the Vineyard!