Independence Day of the
United States, also referred to as
Fourth of July or
July Fourth in the U.S., is a
federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress declaring that the
thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and no longer part of the
British Empire. Independence Day is commonly associated with
fireworks,
parades,
barbecues,
carnivals,
fairs,
picnics,
concerts,
baseball games,
family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to 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.