July 4th Fun Facts You Probably Never Heard
Happy Independence Day from the Polynesian Resort at Disney World!
We won’t be grilling here, but we’ll be doing a lot of chilling. We plan to lay by the pool, take an afternoon nap, grab our favorite dinner at O’Hanas, and then sit on the beach and watch the fireworks.
But enough about us. How are you celebrating Independence Day? Are you going to see a festive parade? Will you watch a spectacular fireworks show? Maybe chow down at a backyard cookout?
I thought I’d entertain you with some history and lore about July 4th. I tried to find quirky facts you may never have heard. Read on and then impress your friends and family today with some not-well-known July 4th trivia:
Did you know:
America’s National Anthem is Sung To The Tune Of A British Drinking Song
The words to our national anthem have nothing to do with consuming alcohol but the melody that Francis Scott Key had in mind when he wrote them originated decades earlier as the tune for a song called “To Anacreon in Heaven” that was sung in British men’s social clubs praising “the God of wine.”
A Few Notable Deaths Are Eerily Connected To July 4th
Two signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the document's signing. Another president, James Monroe, died on July 4th five years later, in 1831.
And then there's our 12th President Zachary Taylor, who spent July 4, 1850, eating cherries and drinking milk at a ceremony at the Washington Monument. He became sick shortly afterward and died five days later.
Although his death was attributed to gastroenteritis from consuming too many cherries and drinking iced milk, a few unproven theories suggest he was poisoned with arsenic because he was trying to block the expansion of slavery.
Cookouts Are More Expensive Than You Think
This year hosting an Independence Day barbeque will cost you an average of $71 for about 8 guests.
The cost to make hamburgers will run you about $13 and feed about 8 people. Pork prices have risen 8 percent so adding chicken to the menu might be your best bet since prices have dropped 4 percent.
Hotdogs are inexpensive but the buns will cost you more this year.
Extras like cheese and condiments have all increased. Same for side dishes. (Make homemade potato salad. It’s cheaper and tastes better.) Potato chips will cost you about $5 a bag and don’t even get me started on soft drinks and beer. You’ll need a loan to buy more than a 12-pack of either.
Speaking of Hotdogs...
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest has been a July 4th staple since it began on July 4, 1916 on Coney Island in New York when, according to legend, four immigrants competed to see who could eat the most hot dogs to proclaim that the winner was the most patriotic among the group.
Fireworks Aren’t Really American
he chemical formula for fireworks was invented by accident in the 10th century in China when a couple alchemists were trying to create “the elixir of life” and mixed honey, saltpeter, and sulfur together.
What could possibly go wrong after they heated the mixture?
Mmmmmmmmm.....
KA-BOOM!
After a few tweaks, the recipe for black powder was invented. It's been adjusted a few times over the centuries. However, the ingredients remained unchanged since 1781 and are still used today when Americans explode about $1.1 billion in fireworks annually – 99 percent of which are still made in China.
Happy Independence Day, my friends! I hope you have a wonderful, festive, safe holiday celebrating with your family and/or friends, and if you’re just hanging at home relaxing, I hope you have a nice day doing that too.
Chat soon!
