Happy Fourth of July! 美國,生日快樂！

Most people are probably aware of the significance of July 4 to Americans. They might not know, however, about the origins of some of the traditions associated with Independence Day in the United States.

Fireworks are a feature of national day observations the world over, and play a major role in American celebrations. John Adams, the country's second president and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, either predicted the firework tradition or started it himself; in a letter to his wife, he called for the celebration of the Fourth of July, the day the final draft of the Declaration was officially adopted, with "pomp and parade, with shows, games . . . bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other . . . "

Americans have long since taken up Adams's suggestion with awesome energy and enthusiasm. July 4 is, of course, a holiday from work, and the occasion for all-day picnics in most communities. Having eaten their fill of hot dogs, burgers, and potato salad, everyone eagerly throws themselves into a program of often quirky activities like three-legged races and pie-eating contests.

A visitor to Boston, a city strongly associated with the events leading up to independence, will certainly come away with a lasting impression of the Fourth of July. The highlight of the day's celebrations is a local orchestra playing a medley of patriotic tunes as one hundred and fifty thousand spectators watch fireworks burst over the harbor.

大多人可能都知道七月四日對美國人的意義；然而他們或許并不知道有關美國獨立日的一些傳統的起源。

燃放焰火是世界各國歡度國慶的共同特色，在美國慶典中更是扮演著重要角色。美國第二任總統、“獨立宣言”的 簽署者，約翰·亞當斯，就曾預言了焰火將會成為一種傳統，或許也正是他本人開創了這種傳統。在一封寫給妻子的家書中，他提到七月四日的慶祝活動（七月四日是獨立宣言 草案正式通過的日子）：游行盛況、演出、競賽……燃起篝火，燈光照亮天際，從大陸的這端綿亙至另一端……

長久以來，美國人對于落實亞當斯總統的建議可說是興 致勃勃、樂此不疲。七月四日這天，自然是勞動者的休假日，也是大眾全天外出野餐的良機。在享用完豐盛的熱狗、漢堡包和土豆沙拉之后，人們迫不及待地加入到一些妙趣橫生的活動中，如兩人三腳跑、吃派競賽等等。

在七月四日當天有幸身在波士頓的旅客會被這座與美國獨立息息相關的城市所呈現的風貌所打動。當天慶祝活動的高潮是波士頓交響樂團的愛國歌謠組曲演奏；另外還有超過十五萬觀眾會集聚港口，欣賞漫天煙火燦爛。