How do you celebrate Independence Day in your country?

[jack]

I saw this as a "writer's block" blogging prompt on Livejournal. At first I was shocked: wasn't that just rampant American-centrism? And then I thought, was that just my own English-centrism?

England has never really become independent of anywhere, except perhaps the Roman Empire, but I don't think that has a good story and authoritative date attached (?)

But is it reasonable to assume that most countries have (at least one) independence day? And that its named and commemorated in a similar manner to America? Wikipedia has quite a comprehensive list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_independence_days) which covers surprisingly many countries (with some number of notable exceptions, UK, Russia, China, Australia[1]...)

[1] Which may yet get there one day :)

Comments

[jae]

Former American, now Canadian (for years) perspective: your first instinct was right. That question only assumes that most countries have at least one Independence Day, it also assumes that it's something one necessarily celebrates, and that the appropriate day to ask about it is July 4th. And then there's the question's title...I mean, it takes a pretty biased American eye not to recognize that as total U.S.-centrism.

Not that I don't admire your efforts to not be English-centric, mind. Most "-centrisms" need a bit less knee-jerking!

-J (currently in England, oddly enough)