July 4th Is Independence Day
In the United States of America, July 4th is the day the country celebrates its hard-fought Independence from England, which first occurred in 1776. It is a federal holiday, which means all government and financial institutions, like post offices and banks, are closed for the day. This year, the Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday.
A little bit of history…..
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain.[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. [source]
On this special day for America, cities, towns, and families across the country gather to celebrate with parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, fireworks, and forms of great fun.
At Mullins Farms, we really enjoy our sweets so I’ve decided to make patriotic fruit tarts this year.
Fruit-Tart Flag
Fill premade miniature tart shells or phyllo cups with sweet mascarpone cream (recipe below), then arrange on a tray and top with blueberries and halved strawberry slices to create stars and stripes.
Mascarpone Cream:
Beat an 8-ounce container of mascarpone cheese and 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar with a mixer until smooth. Gently fold in 1/2 cup freshly whipped cream.
Photographs by Tara Donne
Fun Facts About Independence Day and U.S. Presidents:
– John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence who also later served as President, both died July 4, 1826. That day also happened to be the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.
– President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, becoming the third president in a row to die on Independence Day.
– Calvin Coolidge, the 30th U.S. President, was born on July 4, 1872; the only President to have been born on the Fourth of July.
Happy Fourth of July! Have fun celebrating with your friends and family, but please do it safely. The life you save may be yours!