Today is the 240th anniversary of the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted and our great nation was born. Fireworks, American flags and parades are some of the things that often come to mind about Independence Day, but here are 5 facts you may not have known.

July 2, 1776, was the date the Second Continental Congress made the unanimous decision to break from Great Britain. It was not until two days later that the Declaration of Independence was approved and the Liberty Bell rang in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence did not become official immediately; it was not ratified until August 2, 1776, when congressional delegates signed the document. Some people forget that July 4th was not the beginning of the United States’ fight for independence. The Revolutionary War started more than a year earlier on April 19, 1775, when “The shot heard round the world” in Concord, Mass., began what would be eight hard years of war. Independence Day and home cooked meals go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that an estimated 150 million hot dogs are consumed in America every July 4th! The Fourth of July became a holiday in 1870, almost 100 years after the Declaration was written. Then in 1938 Congress announced that all federal workers would receive full pay for the holiday.

Whatever your plans are this Independence Day, whether it’s grilling in the backyard with family and friends or catching a ballgame, remember to celebrate the freedom our forefathers fought for. From all of us at Sip & Savor, we wish you a happy July 4th!