Dear Fourth of July,

How are you? It's been a while since we've seen you (a year to be exact). Are you ready for there to be an unhealthy amount of fireworks? Are you ready for all the barbecues? More importantly, are you ready to celebrate freedom?

Thank you, Fourth of July, for being the most American holiday there is. Sure, we have Memorial Day and Thanksgiving, but those aren't the most American. For one, Memorial Day isn't a holiday, plus several countries have their own Memorial or Remembrance days. Thanksgiving isn't really American either; Canada has their Thanksgiving in October. No, you, Fourth of July, are the most American holiday there is.

Fourth of July, you celebrate what is essentially the start of American history: the day the our founding fathers signed the Declaration of independence, and the 13 colonies declared themselves free of the British empire. You're considered to be America's birthday, where a new nation was born.

What better way is there to celebrate a birthday than fireworks? I'll tell you: none. We can thank Philadelphia for that, too. Not only was that where the Declaration of Independence was signed, but in 1777, Philadelphia celebrated Independence Day with bonfires, bells, and fireworks.

We have since upgraded our celebrations of you, Fourth of July. Like in 1870, Congress made you an actual holiday. Now, there's the annual celebration, A Capitol Fourth, on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, with fireworks and special performances from various singers.

But our celebrations of you are not limited to fireworks and national concerts! We celebrate you with barbecues galore! No, really. You, Fourth of July, are the most popular holiday for barbecues. And why not? It's summer, they're easy, and anyone can have a bonfire or watch fireworks after all the food!

You, Fourth of July, give us an excuse to be unapologetically American for one day. Even if things are going wrong in our country, from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 4, we will celebrate our independence as much as possible. Thank you for giving us an excuse for fireworks, barbecues, and freedom.

Until next year, Fourth of July.

Love,

America