“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… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” -John Adams
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And I was just kidding about him being stupid. He had no way of knowing, at the time he wrote that to his wife that we wouldn’t be celebrating on the date that the resolution of independence was approved by Congress.
More importantly, where are the guns and bonfires?
Dear Sir,
I am glad to see that you don’t actually regard the Founding Fathers as “Stupid,” Mr. Maynard.com. Some respect should be shown to your predecessors and social superiors. It was on the Fourth that the Declaration was first read to the Public, and that date soon became the one celebrated. Arguably the more important date was the 2nd, when the Decision to separate was made by the Leaders assembled in the Congress at Philadelphia.
Jms Madison
My scofflaw countrymen all around me warm my heart.
Is there any better way to celebrate freedom than with an unstoppable proliferation of illegal fireworks going off all night?
I love the 4th of July in Ypsi.
I hope nobody blows their [whatever] off.
What does the Fourth of July mean to Native Americans? Independence Day? Still, they sell a lot of fireworks on reservations.
10,000 Americans are injured enough by fireworks every 4th of July to require hospital treatment, and lots of fires are started by fireworks use by untrained professionals. In Michigan, if the firework you’re using either makes a loud noise, or leaves the ground, it is an illegal firework. For the public’s safety, the law should be enforced — and obeyed.
Seeing a person with a bloody injury to the eye due to fireworks is no fun at all. Most be less fun to the victim.
What are shews?
I think you wear them on your feetz.
Adams also wore a powdered wig, which was like the tinfoil hat of its day.