The UK has roots so old, it lacks an Ur-myth.
There are lots of National Days out there. Any time a country has one, the local embassy takes out a full-page ad in Bangkok’s English-language newspapers. I can remember Sweden’s National Day because it’s June 6, D-Day. I know some American jokesters here who claim that’s what they’re celebrating every year.
EDIT: Sweden has June 6 because, from Wikipedia:
The tradition of celebrating this date began 1916 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, in honour of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523, as this was considered the foundation of modern Sweden.
Except not all Commonwealth countries celebrate independence from the UK. The American/colonial liberation narrative does not apply to all Commonwealth countries.
For instance, the national days for Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not about independence from the UK. Nation-building and national identity, yes, but not independence.
No Saint Piran’s Day?
Well, we in Britain think that’s all rather presumptive and odd.
If we are going to have another public holiday - and personally I think we should! - I’d vote for Trafalgar Day, 23 October. Not only is it nicely placed to break up that long drag from the end of August to Christmas but it celebrates a victory over Napoleonic hegemony and the prevention of a French invasion. (Yes, I know Napoleon had already broken up the Army of England: but it’s the thought that counts!)
No we don’t. It’s normal for this community.
We in Britain were most amused by this statement.
Like I mentioned upthread, in Texas we get two Independence Days, one in July (US independence from England) and one in March (Texan independence from Mexico).
I suppose we could also claim one from Spain, but that’d be a stretch. In any case, we mostly only celebrate the one in July. Texan independence from Mexico is a point of small pride but mostly it’s just history, overshadowed by our annexation of the United States a few years later.
This is what we in Britain call an open goal.
We in Britain are honoured.
I’m not sure if the OP is asking about national days (most countries have one, like, say, the king’s birthday) or about the functional equivalent of independance.
If the former, France has bastille day (not called Bastille day, but simply 14 of July in France, by the way).
If the latter, traditionally, the birth of France is dated back to the baptism of Clovis, in 492 (Clovis conquered most of what is now France and then some). However, this is an heirloom of the monarchy/catholic church (first Christian king). Dating France from the treaty of Verdun (843) dividing forever the Carolingian empire between a “French” and a “German” kingdom (plus a Lotharingian empire that wouldn’t survive in the middle) makes much more sense (plus the related “oath of Strasbourg” between the “French” and “German” kings is the first formal use of old French). Neither of these events is celebrated, though.
Many Tejanos celebrate Independence from Spain–on Diez y Seis de Septiembre–usually in addition to July 4th. Because who doesn’t like a day off work, barbecue & fireworks? Cinco de Mayo is another of the Fiestas Patrias, celebrating a Mexican victory against French invaders; I think this holiday is more popular in the immigrant (& descendant of immigrant) community than in Mexico. It’s now become an excuse for gringos to drink a bunch of tequila…
San Jacinto Day isn’t a big public holiday, more a matter of commemoration. Reenactments at the Battleground have been featuring more guys in Mexican uniforms; the Texian outfits are (authentically) pretty scuzzy.
If this spat heats up we could have a new Civil War to commemorate.
Mostly just wondering how other countries commemorate the founding of their nation, whether it was via throwing off the yoke of foreign oppressors (a la America) or something akin to Remus & Romulus.
I’m actually rather surprised that the UK has no “national founding day” equivalent (Battle of Hastings, anyone?) As for Guy Fawkes day, that always seemed to me a rather bizarre tradition – similar to celebrating Richard Reid Day by lighting our shoes on fire :dubious: – but if it’s just an excuse to get drunk and set off explosions, hey, I’m all for it.
The Battle of Hastings is an event significant to England, and was also, really, a defeat - not really something to celebrate (although it’s not seen as a mark of shame, either)
It cannot be a national day for the whole of the UK.
It was seen as a celebration of God’s deliverance of the King from the terrors of the Papists, and a sign that England is under God’s protection. Also, for many centuries there was an Act of Parliament making it illegal not to celebrate.
Language question: why is it written “diez y seis” rather than “dieciseis”? Is it an old-fashioned way of writing it? Is it a regional/dialect difference?
I’m guessing it’s an archaic form, like “four score and seven years”.
England (not the UK) existed before the Battle of Hastings.
Anyway, if this is about celebrating the foundation of the UK, then the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland (22 July 1706) would be the obvious one.
Yeah, well, it’s all we got 
As I mentioned in another thread, I sure as hell don’t work on 4 July for my British overlords. Also I make the British person in the house cook our tea which is only fair considering the small, rude remarks he directs at me all day.
Sore losers. 