American Holidays

Scene:  July 4th BBQ in the picturesque Hertfordshire village of Great Wymondley
My UK Citizen Wife [to me]:  Go on, boy, do your trick!
Me: (puzzled look, tilts head sideways)
Wife: Go on, do your celebrating independence trick!
Me: (understanding, excitedly run over to Roman Candle, light fuse, run away)
Neighbors: Oooh, look at him go!
(Roman Candle begins firing)
Me: (jumping around excitedly, waving American flag) Wooo! Hooo!
Neighbors:  [to each other] Awwww, isn't that sweet?  He just loves that independence!
Neighbors:  [to me] Well done, American!  Good boy!

I think somebody captured you in action...

Heh well I know not everyone on the forum has checked in on the thread, but to sum up for the OP...

You don't get the days off as public holidays (4th of July & Thanksgiving) so you have to get creative with taking an annual leave day or planning a celebration for one of the weekends surrounding.

Some of us don't celebrate & aren't bothered.

Some of us throw parties.  Others try to bagsy an invitation to where someone is throwing a party.

Where there is a BBQ/dinner/party/etc - it's probably very much like what one would do in the US.  You might have a bit of extra challenge & planning ahead for sourcing certain ingredients to make your favourite traditional dishes, but it's definitely doable!

One good thing - fireworks are available for sale & use here year-round! 

One good thing - fireworks are available for sale & use here year-round! 

I hate to be pedantic, but there are some places that only buy a license to sell fireworks around Guy Fawkes Night, as it's cheaper than buying a year-round license. 

While searching for fireworks for my first July 4th in the UK, I went into a hardware shop that advertised fireworks.  When I said I wanted some, the two gents behind the counter both made the "Hmmmmmm" noise that I now know is British for "The answer is 'no,' but politeness prevents me from saying 'no.'"  They then directed me to a garden center nearby where they had a year-round license.   

Having been in the US for the past few years with my UK husband, and also having quite a lot of UK friends, they all agree that a day off work is a day off work! It's a great excuse to visit family and friends. My brother's in-laws have a huge blowout in central PA so we go to that if we can.
 
DHs coworkers were more concerned (amused, really) that he was celebrating than he was! Moral of this story is that we celebrate Independence Day because we can. When we are back in the UK, we probably won't unless the 4th falls on a weekend. Unless we can swing an invite to someone's BBQ (ahem...)

See, if it were left to me, I probably wouldn't think of them tons other than to get a smidge homesick on those days (they are also two of the only days I tend to get a bit homesick). My British husband, however, is the one who encourages us to make a mark of those days.  He insists that our children grow up having some understanding of their American heritage.  He feels it is very important that they know both sides of their family history, and while they will likely identify themselves more on the UK side, they should have some idea of where they come from and the things that were important to us as Americans.

The Fourth never was one of my favorite holidays in the States -- too dang hot! But we cooked out and did fireworks this year, and the local fireworks man gave me an extra special rocket for free to celebrate. (It was good, too).

Down here in the Southeast corner, you occasionally see the stars and stripes flying at a pub or being carried in a procession. Not to mention the occasional little shrine where some poor yank dumped his plane in the war. People show more curiosity about holidays than anything else (like, are there Thanksgiving cards? What do you say to each other on the Fourth?)

Thanksgiving I never miss. It's perhaps my favorite holiday. And you don't have to twist my husband's arm to eat a big turkey meal. I arrived on my first visa on a Thanksgiving Day, so it has an extra dimension of special for me.

I originally wasn't going to do anything to celebrate Independence Day this year, but it was actually my work colleagues who insisted I bring in some goodies.  Any reason to have treats!  (well, actually, they specifically requested one of those cakes with strawberries and blueberries that looks like the American flag)

I really don't celebrate the 'American' holidays as it is now - and I still live here! - but once we have kids, it's def something I plan to do, even if I have to put a British spin on it. My fiance is super supportive of reminding the kids one day that they will have more than one nationality and giving them a taste of how Mum grew up. He isn't too keen on Halloween and I have to say, if I had to have Thanksgiving or Halloween, I'd take Halloween every year.

We usually go home for Thanksgiving, although we have gone out to eat with other American friends here.  The Christmas meals that are already being served are quite close to American Thanksgiving.

As for the 4th, we went to a UK Airforce base this year for a joint Mildenhall/Lakenheath celebration.  It was filled with Brits who seemed to have no problem watching the Red Arrows, eating deep fried Twinkies and watching some fireworks.

I wonder how they all feel about celebrating Guy Fawkes? 

I wonder how they all feel about celebrating Guy Fawkes? 

Even now many British Catholics won't celebrate Guy Fawkes.

I know a few. I was just wondering what the people on that message board thought.   

July 4th we have a BBQ on the nearest Saturday, the first year was actually on the 4th. DW makes lots of American food and her pulled pork is a big hit. I get some minikegs of beer from a local brewery and we have WMMR Philadelphia streaming on the internet.
As we live in a small house which not too much room for entertaining it allows us to spread outside into the yard!
All our friends and family love it, it might have an American theme but they don't mind, it's just a chance to get together and have fun.

The first year DW was here she wasn't working and made a Thanksgiving dinner on the day for when I got home from work, and we ate it whilst watching the NFL on Sky Sports. We weren't sure if turkeys would be available so she ordered one from the butchers, it was huge and cost over £20, the week before Thanskgiving we saw them in the supermarket freezer at half the price! Even prior to meeting DW I used to have an American themed evening with hot dogs or burgers for dinner and watch the NFL.
The last 2 years, and this as well, we've gone to the States to visit family.

Thanks for all of the replies from those who had some genuine feedback for the questions I was asking about. I for one always loved Independence Day and the true meaning of the holiday and I will celebrate the day wherever I may be in a manner that best befits the occasion, fireworks, food and alcohol and a reading of the Declaration of Independence...not really that last one. LOL
Besides one can come and celebrate anything they wish (with free food and alcohol) at my get to-gethers for the 4Th. 

Viva la difference!

I am not over there quite yet; but I was talking with a friend in Manchester the other day and the topic of the Revolutionary War came up. He insisted that England got bored and left. I had to laugh and ask him if he was serious! He's very competitive by nature. I am sure no one would be offended if you celebrate American holidays. Afterall, in America people celebrate holidays from other cultures as well. I think it would be very nice to invite people to a celebration- lots of a fun and learning a little tolerance doesn't hurt either.

My fiancé insists they let us win.  :p

I am not over there quite yet; but I was talking with a friend in Manchester the other day and the topic of the Revolutionary War came up. He insisted that England got bored and left. I had to laugh and ask him if he was serious! He's very competitive by nature. I am sure no one would be offended if you celebrate American holidays. Afterall, in America people celebrate holidays from other cultures as well. I think it would be very nice to invite people to a celebration- lots of a fun and learning a little tolerance doesn't hurt either.