The 4th of July is celebrated every year when people across our country raise their American flag for Independence Day.
Barbecues, boats and beers are often associated with summer vacations, but the American holiday also has a rich history, commemorating America's independence.
“Happy Fourth of July” is a popular saying among patriots on this day, but there are also other unique expressions with interesting origins.
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Why do we say “Celebrate a Yankee Doodle Day” and “Home of the Brave,” for example?
Below are three idioms related to the Fourth of July with interesting national stories.
July 4 is celebrated annually to commemorate the founding of the United States. (iStock)
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1. 'Have a Yankee Doodle day'
A “Yankee doodle dandy” was originally a term used in the 1770s: “Yankee” meant “American colonist” and “doodle” meant “fool.”
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Over the years, the song “Yankee Doodle” grew in popularity, specifically during the battles of Lexington and Concord.
That's when “patriotic colonists soundly defeated British soldiers” and sang the tune, according to the Golder Lehrman Institute of American History.
“Have a Yankee Doodle Day” is a popular expression some people use on the 4th of July. (iStock)
The song was also often used to joke about how some people dressed and the emphasis it placed on their appearance.
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Telling people to “have a Yankee Doodle day” is basically telling them to enjoy their holiday any way they want.
2. 'Happy Birthday, America'
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, marking the birth of the United States of America.
The 13 North American colonies would secede from Great Britain, as Britannica noted.
“Happy Birthday, America!” is a popular expression used to celebrate Independence Day each year. (iStock)
From that day on, July 4th was celebrated as America's birthday; hence people say “Happy Birthday, America” on this day of celebration.
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3. 'Home of the Brave'
The popular expression “Home of the Brave” is most recognizable as a lyric from “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with a rich American backstory.
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An American lawyer and poet named Francis Scott Key is believed to have written a poem that would end up being known as “The Star-Spangled Banner” as we know it today.
Key was aboard a British ship during negotiations for the release of a prisoner when he was forced to spend a night on the enemy ship, according to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.
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During that time, he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry before seeing the American flag still flying the next day on September 18, 1814, during the War of 1812.
“Home of the Brave” appears in “The Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem. (iStock)
Key was so moved by what he saw that he decided to write a poem based on what he saw, called “Defense of Fort McHenry,” which is what we know as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
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Within the poem, the lyrics “home of the brave” are written—and now sung daily—to represent the brave soldiers who fought for America.
In 1931, Congress passed a bill to make “The Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem, according to the Kennedy Center, and it was signed by President Herbert Hoover.
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The flag actually raised over Fort McHenry at dawn on September 14, by the way, enjoys a place of honor at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. It is known as the Grand Garrison Flag.
Fox News Digital's Kerry J. Byrne contributed to this report.
