History
Commemorative Practices and National Identity
Quick fact
Many 'ancient' national traditions are surprisingly recent inventions; for example, the British royal family's elaborate public ceremonies were largely created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to bolster national unity amidst social change, as historian Eric Hobsbawm famously documented.
Why this is interesting
Every year, your country celebrates its independence day—but have you ever wondered why that particular date was chosen and not another? The answer reveals the powerful role of commemoration in forging a national 'we.'