The Fourth of July is an exciting – and delicious - time of year. There’s swimming, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and, of course, fireworks.  While the lights are pretty and it’s a blast to set them off, a moment of carelessness can ruin a good time.  Following this list of common – and not so common – safety tips will help ensure that you have a safe and happy July 4th.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the United States flag, which happened on June 14, 1777. On that day, the Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing the design of the American flag, stating, "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, has its origins in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, left the nation divided and mourning the loss of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from both the Union and Confederate sides.