The United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4.
The date commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in 1776. The declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states separate from Great Britain.
Modern celebrations commonly include fireworks, parades, concerts, picnics, and public readings of the Declaration. The holiday is often called the Fourth of July, a name based directly on its calendar date.
The declaration was approved on July 4, although the document was signed by many delegates later. This distinction sometimes causes confusion, but July 4 remains the official date celebrated throughout the United States.