Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:43 am
Britain doesn't exactly have a birthday - it's been inhabited since long before the concept of dating systems was even conceived.
There is no British or UK national day - although there is the proposal of starting one (with both proponents and opponents of the idea)
However, each of the countries that make up the UK has the national day of their own. In England this is April 23rd, St George's Day - at least that's when it's celebrated in most countries.
It doesn't come with any particular celebration. People might go down the pub and get boozed up in the evening, but it's not a public holiday - that is, people still go into work.
In terms of the manner of celebration, the closest annual thing to what Americans do for July 4th is Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th). Again, not a public holiday, but lots of burning things and setting off explosive devices in the evening.
Even so, it's a big step down from your July 4th.
- Firstly, given it's the middle of the British autumn (That's "fall" to you Yanks), there's no walking around in scarce clothing, and not exactly much in the way of barbecues and beer - might find some of both though in some places.
- Secondly, it's not particularly patriotic, and people aren't exactly hugely motivated to get involved. It's neat, but not a particularly vigorous celebration. More like coordinated fireworks, because we don't get a lot of other excuses for it (New Year is about the only other time).
- Thirdly, the organised celebrations are normally moved to the nearest Saturday/Sunday for convenience, the actual date doesn't really concern people.
If you're counting anything, last time anything like that happened was in June 2002 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Concerts, fireworks, national holidays, the works. That kind of thing doesn't exactly come around very often though.
Does that thing kinda look like a big cat to you?
8)
