Hello and welcome to my podcast My Life and Other Funny Stories. My name is Dagmar Tomášková, I am an English tutor and coach and I created this podcast for English students who want to improve their oral comprehension. As always you can find the transcription of this episode and vocabulary list in the notes of the podcast. 

As I like to talk about American history and culture, I came up with the idea to introduce you a little bit to an American public holiday called The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day. It is coming next week so when is a better time for this than today?

So, Independence Day. What is it? We could say that it is the birthday of the United States. It is a big American holiday which is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and barbecues. But do you know why? If not, I’ve got you covered…

…and if you want to make it more fun, have a shot of alcohol every time I say the word “American”. You will be absolutely wasted in a few minutes. Okay, let’s jump right in.

The United States was officially created on July 4, 1776, when the thirteen American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. They signed a famous document called the Declaration of Independence. Before that, Americans were under the rule of the British crown and they were tired of it. They had to follow British orders and pay taxes to Britain. That was one of the biggest problems because even though Americans were part of the British Empire, they had no representation in the parliament. They started saying “no taxation without representation” which means that until there were also Americans deciding about politics, they wouldn’t pay taxes. Of course, there were many more problems that were escalating quite quickly. It was a big struggle and took a lot of battles between American settlers and the British army before it came to the Declaration of Independence.

So, on the 4th of July, a group of serious men in wigs and long coats, sat in a hot room in Philadelphia and argued about freedom. Sounds fun, right? It was actually quite dramatic. They had to agree on the words of the Declaration of Independence, which was not an easy task. It’s like trying to agree on a movie to watch with your friends  – everyone has a different opinion! But instead of the movie, it is the most important document in American history.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers, wrote most of the Declaration. He was a brilliant man, but he probably didn’t know his words would become so famous. He wrote about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

When the Declaration was finally approved on July 4, 1776, everyone was excited. They rang bells, fired cannons, and had huge celebrations. It was like the best birthday party ever, but for a whole country!

Now, let’s talk about how Americans celebrate the 4th of July today. First, there are fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks. People love to gather with their friends and family to watch the sky light up with colors. I mean, people love these shows but I would say dogs are not the biggest fans.

Another big part of the celebration is the barbecue. Americans love to grill burgers, hot dogs, and ribs. It’s a feast! People also enjoy parades with marching bands, balloons, and people dressed up in red, white, and blue. It’s a day full of patriotism and fun.

And let’s not forget about the 4th of July outfits. You’ll see people wearing all sorts of American flag-themed clothes. It’s like a fashion show where everyone is trying to outdo each other with their love for the USA. So, if you ever want to see an eagle wearing sunglasses and a top hat, the 4th of July is your day!

But why is the 4th of July so important to Americans? It’s because it reminds them of their freedom and independence. It’s a day to celebrate being American and to remember the people who fought for their country’s freedom. It’s a time to be proud and thankful.

But sometimes I feel that every day is an opportunity to celebrate being Americans for Americans. Americans are a very proud nation in general, you can see signs of patriotism in their every day life. 

I will give you a few examples:

 Many Americans have the flag outside their homes year-round, not just on holidays. They not only put the flags on windows and porches, sometimes they have a big pole in front of their house and they put up the flag every morning. Some also display miniature flags or flag-themed decorations inside their homes. But they display flags not only at home. Some workplaces have American flags or patriotic decorations, and employees might wear flag pins or other symbols.

Another example of American patriotism is reciting the Pledge of Alliance in schools. It is typically recited at the beginning of the day, during public meetings, at some sporting events, and on other occasions where Americans gather.  Everyone stands up as a sign of respect, places their right hand over their heart, turns to face the American flag and recites:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

That is the end. But just to add, indivisible means that it is unable to be divided.

Sometimes a moment of silence comes after the pledge, especially in schools.

The Pledge of Allegiance is a daily affirmation of loyalty to the United States.

So, there you have it – the history and celebration of the 4th of July. It’s a day full of fireworks, food, and fun, all wrapped up in red, white, and blue. I hope you enjoyed learning about this special holiday. 

It is really interesting that they are so proud. You can see this type of patriotism only when there is hockey championship and we are winning. Which is not that often. Can you imagine putting up a Czech flag every morning in front of your house? I don’t think so.

That is all I have for you today. Thank you for listening! If you liked this episode, please leave a five-star rating and share it with your friends. Don’t forget, you can find the transcript and vocabulary list in the podcast notes. See you next time.