July contains Independence Day in the United States. The holiday is observed every year on July 4, commemorating Congress's adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The date reflects a distinction that is often overlooked. The Second Continental Congress approved the Lee Resolution, the formal vote for independence, on July 2, 1776. Congress then adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the date that became the nation's celebrated national day. The document explained the reasons for separation from Britain, which helped make July 4 the enduring public symbol.
Independence Day is commonly called the Fourth of July and is associated with fireworks, parades, concerts, picnics, barbecues, and family gatherings. If July 4 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, federal employees may observe the holiday on a nearby Friday or Monday, but the legal holiday itself remains July 4. It is therefore not June, August, or September.