The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to get together with family and friends for picnics, backyard games, sparklers, fireworks, and other traditional celebrations to commemorate our country’s independence. While your party guests are eating their hamburgers and hot dogs, you can share these interesting historical facts about a few of our country’s symbols and traditions courtesy of us here at Horner Barrow Orthodontics.
• The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, with her torch in one hand and a tablet in the other, is one of the most iconic and recognizable symbols of our country. However, as recognizable as certain parts of the statue are, not many people know that broken shackles, representing tyranny and oppression, are lying at Lady Liberty’s feet. According to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, the copper-plated figure weighs an amazing 450,000 tons and has been holding her torch high for more than 125 years!
• The Origination of Fireworks
A traditional fireworks display is a fun and exciting way to end the Fourth of July holiday. Many of us have heard that these spectacular pyrotechnic displays most likely originated in China. But a fair number of historians also believe that the concept of fireworks was discovered when the Chinese people roasted bamboo sticks over fires and watched them explode. After many years of roasting the sticks, a group of clever alchemists came up with an early kind of gunpowder, which they then stuffed into bamboo sticks to create an even more powerful explosion, paving the way for the modern fireworks we are familiar with today.
• Hot Dog Eating Contest
People have been coming to New York’s Coney Island on the Fourth of July since 1916 to witness what some have called the “Superbowl of Competitive Eating.” Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest challenges competitors to down as many hot dogs as they can in just ten minutes, with the current record holder (Joey Chestnut) devouring an unbelievable 69 hot dogs! If you’d like to see this frenzied eating competition, but won’t be near Coney Island on July fourth, have no fear. ESPN has been airing this popular event for several years, so you can watch the foodfest from the comfort of your own home while you eat a normal-sized meal.
Whether you’re watching fireworks here in Sioux Falls, SD, taking a trip to visit the Statue of Liberty, or maybe even participating in a hot dog eating contest, Dr. Kevin Horner, Dr. Keri Barrow and the entire team at Horner Barrow Orthodontics wish you a safe, fun-filled, and happy Fourth of July holiday!