（双语文稿）美国独立日在哪天

The United States celebrates its Independence Day on July 4.
美国在7月4日庆祝独立日。
John Adams, who later became America's second president, wrote to his wife in 1776 that the day would be remembered with fireworks and celebrations "from one End of this Continent to the other."
后来成为美国第二任总统的约翰•亚当斯(John Adams)在1776年给妻子的信中写道，人们将以烟花和庆祝活动来纪念这一天，“从这个大陆的一端到另一端”。
But the day he was talking about was July 2, 1776, not July 4. July 2 is the day the Continental Congress of the original 13 colonies voted for independence from Britain. Congress did not officially sign the Declaration of Independence, mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, until two days later.
但他说的是1776年7月2日，而不是7月4日。7月2日是由13个殖民地组成的大陆会议投票决定脱离英国独立的日子。国会直到两天后才正式签署主要由托马斯•杰斐逊撰写的《独立宣言》。
First July 4 celebration
第一个7月4日庆祝活动
Pauline Maier was a historian who wrote the 1997 book American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. She wrote that in early July of 1777, members of the Continental Congress nearly forgot that it had been a year since they declared their freedom from the British.
波琳•迈尔（Pauline Maier）是一位历史学家，1997年出版了《美国圣经:独立宣言》一书。她写道，在1777年7月初，大陆会议的成员几乎忘记了他们宣布脱离英国已经一年了。
They remembered on July 3. It was too late to celebrate on July 2. So, they decided to mark the country's independence with a celebration the following day: July 4.
他们7月3日才想起，已经不可能在7月2日庆祝了，因此，他们决定在7月4日庆祝国家独立。
The Pennsylvania Evening Post of Philadelphia reported, "Yesterday the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, was celebrated in this city with demonstrations of joy and festivity."
费城的《宾夕法尼亚晚报》报道说:“昨天，7月4日是美利坚合众国的独立纪念日，这个城市举行了欢乐的庆祝活动。”
At night, the Post said, "There was a grand exhibition of fireworks...and the city was beautifully illuminated."
到了晚上，《华盛顿邮报》说:“有一场盛大的焰火表演……整个城市流光溢彩。”
Becoming official holiday
成为法定假日
The tradition of celebrating Independence Day started to expand after the War of 1812 against Britain. Such celebrations were mostly held on July 4.
庆祝独立日的传统在1812年对英战争后范围开始扩大。这些庆祝活动大多在7月4日举行。
John Adams, however, still believed that Americans should celebrate their independence on July 2. Historians say Adams reportedly turned down invitations to take part in July 4 events until the day he died. Adams died on July 4, 1826.
然而，约翰•亚当斯仍然认为美国人应该在7月2日庆祝独立。历史学家说，据说亚当斯拒绝参加7月4日的活动，直到他去世。亚当斯于1826年7月4日去世。
That same day, Thomas Jefferson also died. The two men and former presidents were friends as well as rivals. They both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
同一天，托马斯•杰斐逊也去世了。这这位前总统既是朋友也是对手。他们都死于《独立宣言》签署50周年纪念日。
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th an official holiday.
1870年，美国国会将7月4日定为法定假日。
Modern-day celebrations
今天的庆祝活动
In July 1776, the U.S. was a country of 2.5 million people. It is now a country of 336 million, the U.S. Census reports. These days, Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and other festivities.
1776年7月，美国还是一个只拥有250万人口的国家。美国人口普查报告显示，现在这个国家有3.36亿人口。现在，美国人用烟花和其他庆祝活动来庆祝独立日。
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, organizers are holding a 16-day festival of fireworks, music, and food to celebrate "America's birthday in America's birthplace!"
在宾夕法尼亚州的费城，组织者正在举行为期16天的烟火、音乐和美食节，“在美国的出生地庆祝美国的生日!”
But the biggest Fourth of July fireworks show is in New York City. It can be seen in the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut. It is also broadcast nationwide on television.
但是7月4日最大的烟花表演是在纽约市，但在邻近的新泽西州和康涅狄格州也可以看到，它也在全国电视上播出。
The small village of Lewes, Delaware celebrates the holiday and its coastal history with the Independence Day Boat Parade.
特拉华州的小村庄易斯用独立日游船游行来庆祝这个节日和它的海岸历史。
In Los Angeles, California, movie lovers can choose to celebrate the holiday by watching old Hollywood films from the grassy area of the historic Hollywood Forever cemetery.
在加州洛杉矶，电影爱好者可以选择在历史悠久的好莱坞永恒公墓的草地上观看好莱坞的老电影来庆祝这个节日。
And far north in Anchorage, Alaska, Independence Day traditions include food, games and late-night fireworks. With 19 hours of daylight this time of year, the fireworks show does not start until midnight.
而远在阿拉斯加州的安克雷奇，独立日的传统包括食物、游戏和深夜烟花。每年这个时候白天有19个小时，烟花表演要到午夜才开始。
I'm Jill Robbins.