The 4th of July? I bring you the glorious 11th/12th of July!

The 11th & 12th of July are two of the biggest cultural celebrations in Northern Ireland. Although mainly celebrated by the Protestant majority. Below is an image of one of the biggest "bonfires", as they're called, that was ever built, built in the Protestant working class stronghold of BallyCraigy, County Antrim, you can get a feel for the ferocity of these celebrations that occur within the often working class neighbourhoods.

The bonfires, which are lit at night on the 11th of July, are built by the local communities from early May and June. There is a competitive nature to the building of these goliaths, with each estate(an estate is a term for a 'housing estate', an area of majority government owned houses that are occupied by mostly working-class families.) competing with each other.

During the day local communities will have fun days arranged for the youth, with bouncy castles and barbeques throughout the day, along with the music. At night, when the bonfires are on fire, there will be a lot of singing, chanting and drinking of alcohol going on. Not so much a child-friendly atmosphere but enjoyed by many nonetheless.

Then comes to the 12th of July. With Alcohol firmly in their blood, a pounding headache and lack of sleep, many continue the party with the annual 12th of July Parades. These are events held all around the country where marching bands parade through the streets along with the Orange Order, a secret protestant only society.

In conclussion, while controversial, the 11th and 12th of July are two of the biggest days of cultural celebration for many in Northern Ireland. Many say it is a display of supremacy, a display of hatred while others argue it's a display of Protestant culture. You can make your own decision.