Actually, quite a lot of British celebrate Independence day. We have American relatives, some of us are Americans, and are really happy to celebrate an occasion that anyone can appreciate: a nation becoming independent. I certainly have broken open a bottle of bubbly today to raise a toast to 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'. I can't say that all my family was around me to celebrate as half of them have actually flown over to the States to celebrate the occasion!

I liked Brian's recall of his happy childhood memories of of family celebrations of Independence Day. Even when we've grown to a mature understanding of what such holidays really represent, the first childhood joy of a special day remains in the memory. Like, in a way, other celebrations such as Christmas and Easter. I suspect that this becomes more poignant for an Ex-pat.