America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, signed the Declaration of Independence.
　　Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in different American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots got very excited and happy and had celebrations.
　　In 1777, Philadelphians remembered the 4th of July. Bells were rung, guns fired, candles lighted, and firecrackers set off. However, while the War of Independence was still going on, July 4 celebrations were the best.
　　When the war ended in 1783, July 4 became a holiday in some places. In Boston, it replaced the date of the Boston Massacre, March 5, as the big patriotic holiday. In 1941, Congress made July 4 a national holiday.
　　Over time, people have come to take part in many other summertime activities on the Fourth of July, including picnics, baseball games, and trips to the beach. Traditional American foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pies are eaten on that day. Other interesting parties include the Lititz, Pennsylvania, candle festival, where hundreds of candles are set floating on water and a “Queen of Candles” is chosen.
　　John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration. His signature is the most famous on the document. Since then, when people are asked for their “John Hancock”, they are being asked to sign their names.
　　The Declaration of Independence itself has become one of the greatest documents of all time. It says that since all people are created by God, they have certain natural rights that cannot be violated.
　　Vocabulary
　　sign v. 签署 patriot n. 爱国者
　　gun n. 枪 candle n. 蜡烛
　　firecracker n. 鞭炮 replace v. 取代
　　document n. 文件 create v.创造
　　violate v. 侵犯
　　What else do you know about Independence Day?