国家地理:July 4th: Exploring the Myth 美国国庆

The 4th of July is America's birthday bash. This summer ritual of picnics, parades and pageantry celebrates the formal adoption¹ of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the most cherished document in our history. It declared an end to England's colonial rule and proclaimed America an independent nation.

"That all men are created equal."

The 4th of July is all about honoring this chapter in America's past, acted out in red, white and blue traditions. It's a day when offices shut down, barbecues light up and the whole country wraps itself in the flag. But if there is one single icon² that truly represents the 4th, it's fireworks. Fireworks have been a traditional part of the 4th for as long as anyone can remember.

I think fireworks could be the perfect way to celebrate any, any holidays.
Sun's gone down and, and, and you're just waiting with anticipation³.
Everyone around you literally⁴ goes, ah, woo, aha.

There are pyrotechnic displays in virtually every corner of the country. In fact, according to the Gallup Poll, in any given year, more than 60 percent of Americans plan to attend a firework display on the holiday. And many of the most breath-taking shows are conceived here.

The Brookhaven, New York Home, a fireworks by Grucci.
The family history of our business of the Grucci family starts back in 1850, in Italy, with my grandfather's grandfather.

The family immigrated⁵ to America in 1870, bringing their explosive secrets with them. Today, four generations of Gruccis are still active in the business, handcrafting kaleidoscopic⁶ displays that dazzle crowds around the world. They've provided the fireworks at many of the major celebratory events in recent American history. The Centennials of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty, opening and closing ceremonies of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and seven consecutive⁷ presidential inaugurations⁸. But 60 percent of their annual business comes from producing shows for the 4th of July.

So you skew the site plan over, so that fallout zone doesn't go over the office complex. Correct. Every show gets molded from a blank white piece of paper and starts and builds up for that point.

We are constantly blending the art form of pyrotechnic entertainment with the science aspect of what can and what cannot be done. So every single performance that we have is unique.


bash: 【俚语】A celebration; a party.庆祝，狂欢；聚会
pageantry: 赛会, 壮丽的游行队伍[表演]
pyrotechnic: Of or relating to fireworks. 烟火制造术的
Centennial: A 100th anniversary or a celebration of it. 百周年纪念

1 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

2 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

3 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

5 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

6 kaleidoscopic   

adj.千变万化的

参考例句：

• London is a kaleidoscopic world.伦敦是个天花筒般的世界。
• The transfer of administrative personnel in that colony was so frequent as to create kaleidoscopic effect.在那个殖民地，官员调动频繁，就象走马灯似的。

7 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

8 inaugurations   

n.就职( inauguration的名词复数 )；就职典礼；开始；开创

参考例句：