Happy Trafalgar Day!
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Happy Trafalgar Day!
205 years ago today Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the allied forces of Spain and France in the most famous battle in British History. Nelson died following the battle.
The BBC has a nifty animation to show how the battle played out.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/trafalgar/index_embed.shtml
Re: Happy Trafalgar Day!
It isn't celebrated here any more (except in the Navy). After World War I people started to see war as less glorious and it died as a celebration.
Re: Happy Trafalgar Day!
The_Amber_Spyglass wrote:It isn't celebrated here any more (except in the Navy). After World War I people started to see war as less glorious and it died as a celebration.
That's kind of sad in a way. It was an epic battle and victory for the British Navy, and it is a very significant event in your country's history. I kind of hate to see traditions like this one fall victim to political correctness. Of course, that's just my perception of it, I've no clue how it is viewed by the average citizen of the U.K. But one of the things I find most appealing about the U.K. is the observance of tradition. Your country has a very long and storied past, I sort of envy that in a way. Part of the reason that I'm a bit of an Anglophile.
dblboggie
Re: Happy Trafalgar Day!
Not really political correctness. As I said it was the perception of war after WWI and the horrific conditions that those soldiers were in. Also, I go to several battle re-enactments every year and there is no problem with showing the warring history between us and the French. I'm sure they do the same to us in France and I'm ok with that. I hate any kind of historical revisionism.
If political correctness ever stopped us celebrating national events such as that, then I'm sure we wouldn't still be marking Bonfire Night (2 weeks time) but we do mark it and it is as big as ever.
5 years ago there was a 200 year anniversary celebration of Trafalgar in Portsmouth harbour, and there is always talk of reinstating it as a national holiday. I certainly don't begrudge the Royal Navy celebrating it, it is certainly their proudest moment. I arrived at work this morning to see the parade ground filled with Sea Cadets and I'm guessing that is why they are on camp for the weekend.
We certainly are proud of our history here (even if the younger generation is incresingly clueless about it), hence the public interest in actively protecting our heritage.
If political correctness ever stopped us celebrating national events such as that, then I'm sure we wouldn't still be marking Bonfire Night (2 weeks time) but we do mark it and it is as big as ever.
5 years ago there was a 200 year anniversary celebration of Trafalgar in Portsmouth harbour, and there is always talk of reinstating it as a national holiday. I certainly don't begrudge the Royal Navy celebrating it, it is certainly their proudest moment. I arrived at work this morning to see the parade ground filled with Sea Cadets and I'm guessing that is why they are on camp for the weekend.
We certainly are proud of our history here (even if the younger generation is incresingly clueless about it), hence the public interest in actively protecting our heritage.
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