When the Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that it should be celebrated as a great festival.
“It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more,” Adams wrote.
As America reaches its 250th birthday, Adams nailed just how Americans celebrate Independence Day, even if he was a couple days off on just when they would mark the occasion.
