5 Facts About the 4th of July You Probably Didn’t Know

After 243 years, The United States of America has woven a beautiful, rich history of culture, diversity, and progress. This 4th of July we’ll be celebrating 243 years of freedom! But while you may know the story of John Hancock and the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, we bet that there are a few facts you don’t know about.

1) THE DECLARATION WASN’T SIGNED ON JULY 4 (OR IN JULY AT ALL)

If you’re not a history buff then you probably just assumed that the 4th of July was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. Early voters like John Hancock and others signed the Declaration on July 2nd, while the actual document was signed and finalized on August 2nd. July 2nd is the day the document was formally dated, finalized, and adopted by the Continental Congress. We celebrate on the 4th of July because that is when the Declaration was officially adopted by all 13 colonies.

2) EATING SALMON ON THE FOURTH IS A TRADITION IN NEW ENGLAND

Tired of hot dogs and hamburgers every year? This year you can confidently switch things up with a little New England flare. Eating salmon was common during the summer in New England because of the abundance of fresh salmon in the waters. You can continue the American tradition of salmon for the 4th by serving it with green peas and turtle soup just like Abigail and John Adams.

3) THE OLDEST ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IS HELD IN BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND

Bristol, Rhode Island has been celebrating the 4th of July 85 years before the holiday became a nationally recognized federal holiday. Since 1785, the town of Bristol has been partaking in what we now all know and love about the 4th of July celebrations including:

• Parades
• Floats
• Live music
• Food

They host a 2.5 mile celebration throughout town to celebrate and remember when our founding fathers first declared our independence from Great Britain.

4) WE’LL EAT A LOT OF HOT DOGS.

Like, a lot. But to put a specific number on the amount, we end up eating around 150 million hot dogs. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimated that in 2018 Americans spent about $3 billion on hot dogs and sausage products alone. Surprisingly, the city of Los Angeles consumes the most hot dogs than any other city at about 31 million pounds.

5) BARBECUE IS ALSO BIG ON THE 4TH OF JULY

You know that people are eating hot dogs and salmon but people are also eating lots and lots of barbecue. In fact, 700 million pounds of chicken will be barbecued and eaten on the 4th! It’s estimated that each household will spend about $73 per plate to help their friends, families, and neighbors celebrate and never go hungry.

This 4th of July stay safe, happy, and full! Take it easy on the 4th with the help of EcoPro Pillow Covers. Did you know EcoPro Pillow Covers can help reduce PT Clinics’ laundry volume by up to 80%? Check out our eco friendly products for healthcare professionals today to learn how you can save time and money this summer.