Comments on: A Brit’s Guide to the Fourth of July http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/ A Brit's Guide to Surviving America Fri, 24 May 2013 23:03:00 -0400 hourly 1 By: Veefer http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-3348 Veefer Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:56:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-3348 On Guy Fawkes; as an American I can say I would not know about it had I not grown up overseas with plenty of Brits at the schools I attended. Always found the burning in effigy somewhat disturbing. Maybe “V” educated some Americans though.

]]> By: So You Want to Marry an American… | Mind The Gap | BBC America http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-3181 So You Want to Marry an American… | Mind The Gap | BBC America Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:28:37 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-3181 [...] happily drive all night.7. Public Holidays There will be a few new ones to get used to, and the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving (third Thursday in November) are massive ones. For the former you’ll have to get [...]

]]> By: Daniel0524 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-3174 Daniel0524 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:01:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-3174 Hannah must be an American – they don’t understand irony OR sarcasm!

]]> By: Olivia http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-2621 Olivia Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:38:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-2621 I was told in school that the tradition of setting off fireworks is to commemorate the “rockets red glare” at the Battle of Baltimore and the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. I guess having a separate holiday for that seemed absurd and it was clumped together with our celebration of independence.

]]> By: Robert Cecil http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-2585 Robert Cecil Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:45:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-2585 I think that was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek remark, to poke fun at some people in other countries who really believe we’re all gun-totin’ modern day versions of Wyatt Earp.

]]> By: Deb Chavis http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-2560 Deb Chavis Sun, 26 Aug 2012 18:09:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-2560 “Bless your heart”.

]]> By: Hannah http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-2290 Hannah Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:29:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-2290 What? I’m American and I’ve never heard of anyone being REQUIRED to own a gun!

]]> By: Mary Sulkowski http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-1714 Mary Sulkowski Sun, 22 Jul 2012 23:43:00 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-1714 Eh. The average 18th-century Brit couldn’t have cared less about the colonies. All it meant to them was higher taxes because of constant border skirmishes with the French. Most of them just said “good riddance.” Also, Mercantilism was totally sucky and unfair to everyone but the empire doing the colonizing.

As for the fireworks, I’m not sure it’s really patriotism as much as it is pyromania. Also, the loud bangs and smell of powder remind us of our guns (as Americans, we are required by law to own at least one handgun, and get tax exemptions if we leave it loaded and in reach of children).

]]> By: Jess http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/07/03/a-brits-guide-to-the-fourth-of-july/#comment-1627 Jess Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:42:50 +0000 http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/?p=571#comment-1627 I read this slightly too late but wish I had read the food advice earlier. My American boyfriend was horrified at my suggestion of making salad and chicken for a get together and promptly informed me that it is a holiday, and on this holiday Americans eat hot dogs, deviled eggs and apple pie/ strawberry shortcake. Who knew? I guess the 4th has some food traditions too, along with Thanksgiving.

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