As special as Trout Lilies and exciting as the first appearance of Bluebonnets, every Texan gets two Independence Days. March 2 is Texas Independence Day, the birth of the Republic of Texas on March 2, 1836. While in the Capitol last week, I showed a recently-arrived Texan the portraits of several Texas presidents that held office before Texas joined the Union.

The Texas Declaration of Independence; Source: Wikipedia

All Texans study Texas history throughout school, including post-secondary if that education is received in Texas, whether the student is a Texan or an immigrant. While the rest of the world may not recognize March 2 as any more than the day that follows March 1, the results of the day are very widely known, with the Battle of the Alamo being probably the best-known result (and movies).
 
We grow up being told that Texas is the only state with the right to secede. I know of no such right but it's fun to think it anyway. During the recent presidential campaign, there was some flap about Sarah Palin's husband being part of a political party that advocated secession for Alaska. Most of the country, according to the press, were going, oh, how horrible. Didn't seem like such a big deal to a Texan. Heck, if they leave, we'd be the biggest state again. They have lots of oil, but so do we and we can refine it.
 
Happy birthday, Texas, the only state as big as its myths.
 
UPDATE: The Dallas Morning News recently ran a story describing the discovery of a note during a research project at SMU that ordered copies of the Texas Declaration of Indepence. Good timing, huh?