What is the United States Semiquincentennial and why is 4th July such a big deal in America?
America will celebrate its 250th birthday on Saturday(Image credit: Getty Images)You've probably noticed already at this World Cup that America bloody loves a bit of pageantry - and their celebrations will be. . .
America will celebrate its 250th birthday on Saturday(Image credit: Getty Images)You've probably noticed already at this World Cup that America bloody loves a bit of pageantry - and their celebrations will be in full flow at Saturday's games. Both Canada's meeting with Morocco in Houston and Paraguay's clash with France in the round of 16 will be preceded by special ceremonies inside the stadium to mark the United States Semiquincentennial. To which you may be wondering. . . . what's a semiquincentennial when it's at home?America's 4th July celebrations explainedRevolutionary war re-enactments are common on 4th July(Image credit: Getty Images)You no doubt be aware that America celebrates Independence Day every 4th July, in recognition of the 1996 release of the Will Smith summer blockbuster of the same name the 1776 ratification of the Declaration of Independence. That document is what theUnited States of Americawas founded upon as an independent country, with the founding fathers formally announcing themselves as a self-governed nation who were no longer under British rule. Extreme heat led to some celebrations in Philadelphia being cancelled on Friday(Image credit: Getty Images)That came just over a year into the eight-year American Revolutionary War, which saw Patriot forces led by George Washington fighting the British Army for the right to become their own country - successfully, in the end, of course. Washington went on to become the first president of the United States, and the rest is history. Go and watchthe first act of Hamiltonif you want to learn more. It's not the most authoritative source but it's definitely the most entertaining. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. That meant that 4th July - as Americans for some reason call it, despite generally doing dates in the format 'July 4' - is celebrated every year, with the day acting as something like a cross between Guy Fawkes Night and Bastille Day: a celebration of national pride, with barbecues and fireworks. This year's celebrations are extra special, because it marks the 250th anniversary of the original 4th July. Those with a basic grasp of Latin (who, we presume, also work at Curry's) will have worked out the semi = half, quin = five, cent = hundred, and ennial = year - hence semiquincentennial. America is going big for the Semiquincentennial(Image credit: Getty Images)It's no accident thatPhiladelphia was selected as one of the venues to host a World Cup gameon the day, either. It was in that very city that the Declaration of Independence was adopted on 4th July, 1776. That makes the City of Brotherly Love the city most closely associated with the birth of the United States. Houston holds no particular historical significance in that regard, but you can always rely on Texas to go big on. . . well, everything, but ceremony included. A parade planned in Philadelphia on Friday unfortunately had to be cancelled due to to an extreme heatwave, with temperatures in the city hitting 40 degrees Celsius, as they wouldn't put it. That's right, America. You might have won the war for independence, but we shall have our revenge by railing against your inexplicable persistent use of the Fahrenheit scale. And that's the real quiz. Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers. com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.