Things you never knew about the Fourth of July

For starters, we probably shouldn't be celebrating on the fourth

Updated: 6:54 AM EDT Jul 4, 2022

Everyone knows the Fourth of July is the day Americans celebrate our independence with food, fun and fireworks. But even though America has had quite a few birthdays, there are still some things about the holiday you might find surprising.1. John Adams refused to celebrate it. According to him, America's liberation should have been celebrated on July 2, when Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. He even wrote to his wife about it: "The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary festival."2. Several presidents died on July 4. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who both signed the declaration, died within hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of Independence Day. If that isn't eerie enough, James Monroe died on the same date five years later.3. America isn't the only country that observes it.Denmark parties hard on the Fourth of July. The country celebrates because thousands of Danes emigrated to the U.S. in 1912. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush were keynote speakers at past celebrations. 4. There's an official Fourth of July City.Seriously, in 1979 an act of Congress dubbed Seward, Nebraska, "America's Official Fourth of July City — Small Town USA." Even though only about 7,000 people live there, over 40,000 come to the town's celebration, which is largely run by high school students.

Everyone knows the Fourth of July is the day Americans celebrate our independence with food, fun and fireworks. But even though America has had quite a few birthdays, there are still some things about the holiday you might find surprising.

1. John Adams refused to celebrate it.

According to him, America's liberation should have been celebrated on July 2, when Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. He even wrote to his wife about it: "The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary festival."

2. Several presidents died on July 4.

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who both signed the declaration, died within hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of Independence Day. If that isn't eerie enough, James Monroe died on the same date five years later.

3. America isn't the only country that observes it.

Denmark parties hard on the Fourth of July. The country celebrates because thousands of Danes emigrated to the U.S. in 1912. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush were keynote speakers at past celebrations.

4. There's an official Fourth of July City.

Seriously, in 1979 an act of Congress dubbed Seward, Nebraska, "America's Official Fourth of July City — Small Town USA." Even though only about 7,000 people live there, over 40,000 come to the town's celebration, which is largely run by high school students.