The United States celebrates its Independence Day on July 4.
美国在7月4日庆祝独立日。
John Adams, who later became America's second president, wrote to his wife in 1776 that the day would be remembered with fireworks and celebrations "from one End of this Continent to the other."
后来成为美国第二任总统的约翰·亚当斯在1776年写信给妻子说，这一天将以“从美洲大陆这端到另一端”的烟花和庆祝活动来纪念。
But the day he was talking about was July 2, 1776, not July 4. July 2 is the day the Continental Congress of the original 13 colonies voted for independence from Britain. Congress did not officially sign the Declaration of Independence, mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, until two days later.
但是他说的这一天是1776年7月2日，而不是7月4日。7月2日是原来的13个殖民地组成的大陆会议投票支持脱离英国独立的日子。国会直到两天后才正式签署主要由托马斯·杰斐逊起草的独立宣言。
First July 4 celebration
第一次7月4日庆祝
Pauline Maier was a historian who wrote the 1997 book American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. She wrote that in early July of 1777, members of the Continental Congress nearly forgot that it had been a year since they declared their freedom from the British.
保琳·迈尔是一位历史学家，她撰写了1997年出版的书籍《美国圣经：独立宣言的拟定》。她写道，在1777年7月初，大陆会议的成员差不多忘记了他们宣布从英国独立出来已经一年了。
They remembered on July 3. It was too late to celebrate on July 2. So, they decided to mark the country's independence with a celebration the following day: July 4.
他们在7月3日想了起来。要在7月2日庆祝已经太迟了。所以他们决定在第二天，也就是7月4日举行庆祝活动来纪念该国的独立。
The Pennsylvania Evening Post of Philadelphia reported, "Yesterday the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, was celebrated in this city with demonstrations of joy and festivity."
费城《宾夕法尼亚晚报》报道说：“昨天7月4日成为美利坚合众国独立纪念日，这座城市以欢乐喜悦的游行来庆祝。”
At night, the Post said, "There was a grand exhibition of fireworks...and the city was beautifully illuminated."
该报纸表示：“（晚上）举行了一场盛大的烟花表演，整个城市在烟花的照耀下变得非常美丽。”
Becoming official holiday
成为法定假日
The tradition of celebrating Independence Day started to expand after the War of 1812 against Britain. Such celebrations were mostly held on July 4.
庆祝独立日的传统在1812年对英国战争后开始扩大。此类庆祝活动大多在7月4日举行。
John Adams, however, still believed that Americans should celebrate their independence on July 2. Historians say Adams reportedly turned down invitations to take part in July 4 events until the day he died. Adams died on July 4, 1826.
然而约翰·亚当斯仍然认为美国人应该在7月2日庆祝他们的独立。历史学家表示，据报道，亚当斯拒绝了参加7月4日活动的邀请，一直到他去世。亚当斯于1826年7月4日去世。
That same day, Thomas Jefferson also died. The two men and former presidents were friends as well as rivals. They both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
同一天，托马斯·杰斐逊也去世了。这两位前总统是朋友，也是竞争对手。他们都在《独立宣言》签署50周年之际去世。
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th an official holiday.
1870年，美国国会将7月4日定为法定假日。
Modern-day celebrations
现代庆祝活动
In July 1776, the U.S. was a country of 2.5 million people. It is now a country of 332 million, the U.S. Census reports. These days, Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and other festivities.
1776年7月，美国是一个拥有250万人口的国家。美国人口普查局表示，它现在是一个拥有3.32亿人口的国家。如今，美国人用烟花和其他庆祝活动来庆祝独立日。
The yearly Fourth of July fireworks show in New York City is the biggest in the nation. It can be seen in the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut. It is also broadcast nationwide on television.
纽约市每年7月4日的烟花表演是全国规模最大的。邻近的新泽西州和康涅狄格州都可以看到这场表演。它还会通过电视在全国范围播出。
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, organizers are holding a 16-day festival of fireworks, music, and food to celebrate the holiday. The small village of Lewes, Delaware, celebrates its coastal history with the Independence Day Boat Parade.
在宾夕法尼亚州的费城，组织者正在举办为期16天的烟花、音乐和美食节来庆祝这个节日。特拉华州的刘易斯小村通过独立日彩船巡游活动来庆祝其沿海历史。
This year, officials in Atlanta, Georgia, are closing roads in the southern city for the traditional AJC Peachtree Road Race. A total of 60,000 runners are permitted to take part in the popular Independence Day event.
今年，佐治亚州亚特兰大市的官员正在封闭这座南部城市的道路，以举办传统的亚特兰大宪法报桃树公路跑。共有6万名跑步者被允许参加这项颇受欢迎的独立日活动。
In Los Angeles, California, movie-lovers can choose to celebrate the holiday by watching old Hollywood films from small boats on Castaic Lake or from the grassy area of the historic Hollywood Forever cemetery.
在加州洛杉矶，电影爱好者可以选择在卡斯泰克湖上的小船上或从历史悠久的好莱坞永恒公墓的草地上观看好莱坞老电影来庆祝这个节日。
And far north in Anchorage, Alaska, Independence Day traditions include a pancake breakfast, baseball games and late-night fireworks. With 19 hours of daylight this time of year, Anchorage's fireworks show does not start until 11 at night.
而在阿拉斯加州安克雷奇市的极北部，独立日的传统包括煎饼早餐、棒球比赛和深夜烟花。每年这个时候安克雷奇的日照时间有19个小时，烟花表演要到晚上11点才开始。
I'm Ashley Thompson.
我是阿什利·汤普森。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，请勿转载，违者必究！)