The United States observes no national holidays, that is, holidays mandated by the Federal government. The United States Congress and/or President can only legally establish an "official" holiday for the District of Columbia and federal employees. In fact, it wasn't until the 20th century that an order was issued giving federal employees a "day off" from work. A public holiday can only be established at the local level. This can be accomplished in several ways, either through enactment of a law issued by a state legislature or by an executive proclamation, that is, by order from a state governor. As an act of confirmation, it is possible as well that a city may enact an ordinance regarding the celebration of the Fourth of July. As stated in theWorld Almanac (1998, p. 315), however, "in practice, most states observe the federal legal public holiday." The first "official" state celebration of the Fourth as recognized under resolve of a legislature occurred in Massachusetts in 1781. Boston was the first municipality (city/town) to officially designate July Fourth as a holiday, in 1783. Alexander Martin of North Carolina was the first governor to issue a state order(in 1783) for celebrating Independence Day on the Fourth of July.
Its interesting to note as well that when July 4th fell on a Sunday, the anniversary would be celebrated in many places on Monday. However, some towns opted to celebrate Independence Day on Saturday, July 3, but that was not as common. In 1830, for example, Columbia, S.C. celebrated the Fourth on 3 July and in 1852, Marblehead, Mass., also celebrated on 3 July.
It
was ex-Senator Robert C. Winthrop of Massachuesetts who suggested that
July 3 be substituted for July 5, when the Fourth falls on Sunday. In a
letter he wrote in 1858 which was read on July 4 at a celebration in Boston,
he states his rationale:
You
are aware that Washington, having arrived at Cambridge on the 2d, assumed
command of the American Army for the first time on the 3d of July, 1775.
Would it not be a most agreeable and worthy coincidence, if, when the intervention
of a Sunday shall cut off the customary routine of these celebrations,
we could combine the commemoration of those two great events: Washington
taking command of the Army in 1775, and Congress declaring our Independence
in 1776 (New York Times, 9 July 1858, 4)
In
1999, July 4th fell on a Sunday and when certain towns opted to celebrate
on July 3rd, protests were heard. In Meza, Arizona, where the Sertoma Club
has staged an annual fireworks show for the last 35 years, they moved the
event to Saturday causing hundreds of complaints. The Club "cited poor
turnout and the reluctance of its Mormon members and volunteers to work
when the holiday falls on a Sunday." In Fairfax, Va., the parade and fireworks
occurred on Saturday because it would have been difficult to get volunteers
to work on Sunday. In Rockledge Borough, Pa., town officials held the city
parade on Saturday in respect for Sunday church services. Some residents
were angry about that.