NEWBERRY COUNTY — While the tradition of Independence Day celebrations dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolution, July 4 has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941.

According to the History Channel, when the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, there were not many colonists that desired complete independence from Great Britain.

By the middle of 1776, however, many more colonists were favoring the idea of independence with the growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.”

On June 7, the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania Statehouse, which later became Independence Hall. It was there that Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence, the History Channel states.

During the debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution and instead appointed a five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert Livingston of New York to draft a formal statement to justify the break with Great Britain.

The Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution on July 2 almost unanimously.

It is said that Adams wrote his wife Abigail that July 2 would be celebrated by “succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival” and should include games, sports, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other.

Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, written largely by Jefferson. Although the vote for independence actually took place on July 2, the date celebrated from then on became July 4 as the birth of American Independence.

The History Channel states that Adams believed that July 2 was the correct date on which to celebrate America’s independence and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4 events in protest.

Adams and Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Early Fourth of July celebrations included colonists holding annual celebrations of the king’s birthday, including ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speeches.

During the summer of 1776, colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III, symbolizing the end of monarchy’s hold on America. These festivals included concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets.

The first annual commemoration of independence was held by Philadelphia on July 4, 1777. George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers marching the anniversary in 1778 and 1781.

Massachusetts was officially the first state to make July 4 an official state holiday.

Following the War of 1812, the traditions of patriotic celebrations became more widespread. In 1870, the United States Congress made July 4 a federal holiday, but it wasn’t until 1941 that it was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees.

Falling in mid-summer, many Newberry County residents look forward to spending the day with friends, family and loved ones.

Newberry County residents shared their thoughts with The Newberry Observer on their Fourth of July traditions via Facebook. Here are some of the comments we received:

Heidi Long: “Spending time with family at the lake and eating lots of food! Happy fourth to all!”

Deborah Koon: “This fourth of July my daughter Christie Ann Koon will be getting married to Jamie Starnes. So we will be celebrating their wedding day.”

Melinda Long: “We always come to Maggie Valley.”

Suzanne Hentz Fulmer: “Spending time and celebrating the fourth with friends and loved ones of all races!”

AshleyElizabeth Garl and Adam Longhouser: “This will be the first year that everything is going to be completely different …we use to always have a bonfire and cookout and shoot fireworks before but now we are starting new traditions once we figure out what that is gonna be.”

Paula Harrison: “Being proud of my Dad, Ralph D. Harrison and all of my uncles, brother-in-law, cousins, friends and my special cousin Patrick Kelley still serving like his dad did. Now it is time to celebrate them all. Be grateful! We are blessed!