Bastille Day Traditions
- Bastille Day military parade. Every year on the morning of the 14th of July there is a military parade (le défilé militaire du 14 juillet) in Paris.
- Aircraft flyover. Every year on 14 July at around 10:30am there is a French air force flyover (le défile aérien du 14 juillet).
- Fireworks display. ...
- Other important Bastille Day traditions. ...
What is Bastille Day and why do we celebrate it?
What is Bastille Day and why is it celebrated?
- An ever-moving date. France has had many days of national celebration, each reflecting the politics of its time. ...
- New symbols for a new era. The disastrous and humiliating defeat France suffered against Prussia in 1871 led to the fall of Napoleon III and the advent of the French ...
- Bastille Day Today. ...
What is the meaning of Bastille Day?
Bastille Day, which is sometimes called National Day, holds some similarities to the United States' Independence Day celebration. The national holiday observes the rush of the medieval Bastille prison as the French were fighting for their freedom during the French Revolution on July 14, 1789.
What happened on July 14th Bastille Day?
Incidents during Bastille Day
- In 2002, Maxime Brunerie attempted to shoot French President Jacques Chirac during the Champs-Élysées parade.
- In 2009, Paris youths set fire to more than 300 cars on Bastille Day.
- In 2016, Tunisian terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck into crowds during celebrations in the city of Nice. ...
What is Bastille Day about?
The day commemorates the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille, which on July 14, 1789, eliminated the French monarchy during the French Revolution. And while the holiday is obviously a huge cause for celebration in France, it's celebrated in countries around the world as well.
How do families celebrate Bastille Day?
On Bastille Day the Tricolore flies high in French cities. French people often attach the French flag outside their windows. On that day, there are military parades in the cities main streets, street parties where people bring food and drinks to share with their neighbours and fireworks take place in the night time.
What's the Bastille day what happened and what do they celebrate?
Bastille Day, in France and its overseas départements and territories, holiday marking the anniversary of the fall on July 14, 1789, of the Bastille, in Paris. Originally built as a medieval fortress, the Bastille eventually came to be used as a state prison.
Do you say Happy Bastille Day?
To wish someone a 'Happy Bastille Day' don't mention Bastille at all. Yup, the French don't call the day Bastille Day, instead referring to the date as 'la Fête Nationale Française' or 'Fete Nat' or even a simple 'la Fête du 14 Juliet'. That roughly translates as The National French holiday – or July 14 holiday.
What do French call Bastille Day?
Today, the kickoff of the Revolution is celebrated every year with French pride and color on what we now call "Bastille Day" — which the French usually just call "le 14 Juillet." In truth, festivities actually begin the night before on July 13.
Where is Bastille Day celebrated?
ParisToday, celebrations for the national festival are held all over France. The oldest and largest military parade in Europe takes place on the morning of the 14th July on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, in front of the President of the Republic, French senior officials and foreign guests.
What happened on Bastille Day quizlet?
What happened on July 14, Bastille Day? A mob rampaged into Paris killing the prisoners and guards and putting their heads on sticks walking around Paris. The Bastille also had all the weapons and gun powder and was destroyed brick by brick.
Why was the Bastille attacked?
Why did they storm the Bastille? Rising bread prices, the concentration of foreign soldiers around Paris, and counter-revolutionary measures by the king, such as the dismissal of Jacques Necker, caused the people of Paris to riot. Searching for weapons and gunpowder led the mob to the Bastille.
Why is 14th July celebrated as the national day in France?
In 1880, the Third Republic granted France a national holiday on 14th July in memory of the storming of the Bastille on the same day in 1789.
What happens on Bastille Day?
When Bastille Day falls on a Saturday you have the unique opportunity to catch a water and fireworks display at the royal palace of Versailles. When night falls, the Gardens are transformed to offer a stunning visual and musical treat as fountains and groves come alive with colourful and dramatic lighting effects.
Where is Bastille Day held in Sydney?
The premier Bastille Day event in Sydney is the Bastille Day Festival and Party and is held on the foreshore of Sydney’s Circular Quay each year. Check our Calendar of French Traditions & Celebrations to find out about all French national holidays, celebrations and remembrance days.
What is the national day of July 14?
Bastille Day, France’s biggest national event of the year is celebrated on the 14th of July. Known as La Fête de la Bastille or La Fête Nationale, the annual celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 and the first major event of the French Revolution of 1789.
What time is the Eiffel Tower fireworks?
Gather around the Champs de Mars or along the Seine to witness a spectacular music concert beginning around 9pm and wait until 11pm for the show-stopping fireworks. A half hour of bright yellow, blue, pink, green, and gold explosions around the Eiffel Tower will leave you with memories for years to come.
What is the national holiday of France?
A national holiday is often defined by the annual traditions that the public and government establish. Here are five of the major ongoing French Bastille Day Traditions held in Paris. If you are lucky enough to coincide your visit to Paris with Bastille Day you are in for a treat!
When is the firemen's ball in Paris?
On the evening of 13 July, the night before Bastille Day, the city comes alive for a very special party. The fire stations around Paris open to the public for the Fireman’s Ball. Firehouses open their doors to the public for dancing, live music, drinking, and demonstrations. The dancing starts around 9pm and goes as late as 4am. All the firemen wear their uniforms, with a pretty quick turn around to be at the parade the next morning!
Where does the parade start and end?
This is a spectacle to behold. The parade commences at 10am at the Arc de Triomphe and ends at the Place de la Concorde. The President of France leads the parade while French jets fly overhead. The Arc de Triomphe creates a dramatic backdrop as waves of soldiers and marching bands make their way down the Champs-Élysées.
What did the Bastille symbolize?
Besides holding gunpowder and other supplies valuable to revolutionaries, the Bastille also symbolized the callous tyranny of the French monarchy , especially King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette.
When was the Bastille built?
Built in the 1300s during the Hundred Years’ War against the English, the Bastille was designed to protect the eastern entrance to the city of Paris. The formidable stone building’s massive defenses included 100-foot-high walls and a wide moat, plus more than 80 regular soldiers and 30 Swiss mercenaries standing guard.
What were the causes of the French Revolution?
Causes of the French Revolution. Louis XVI and the Tennis Court Oath. The National Assembly. Storming of the Bastille. The Bastille Is Dismantled. Bastille Day Today. Bastille Day is a holiday celebrating the storming of the Bastille—a military fortress and prison—on July 14, 1789, in a violent uprising that helped usher in the French Revolution.
What happened to the drawbridge in the Bastille?
Eventually, a group of men climbed over an outer wall and lowered a drawbridge to the Bastille’s courtyard, allowing the crowd to swarm inside. When men began attempting to lower a second drawbridge, de Launay broke his pledge and ordered his soldiers to shoot.
What did Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette spend their money on?
Despite inheriting tremendous debts from his predecessor, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette continued to spend extravagantly, such as by helping the American colonies win their independence from the British. By the late 1780s, France’s government stood on the brink of economic disaster.
Why did Louis XVI move the army into Paris?
But he also moved several army regiments into Paris and its surroundings, leading to fears that he would break up the assembly by force.
What happened in 1788?
To make matters worse, widespread crop failures in 1788 brought about a nationwide famine. Bread prices rose so high that, at their peak, the average worker spent about 88 percent of his wages on just that one staple.
When was Bastille Day celebrated?
French jets trailing the national colours over Paris during Bastille Day celebrations, 2017. The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, undated coloured engraving. July 14, often called la fête nationale in France, became an official holiday in 1880.
What was the Bastille used for?
Originally built as a medieval fortress, the Bastille eventually came to be used as a state prison. Political prisoners were often held there, as were citizens detained by the authorities for trial. Some prisoners were held on the direct order of the king, from which there was no appeal.
What is the holiday of July 14?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Bastille Day, in France and its overseas départements and territories, holiday marking the anniversary of the fall on July 14, ...
What is the meaning of "Vive le 14 juillet"?
The slogan “Vive le 14 juillet!” (“Long live the 14th of July!” ) has continued to be associated with the day. The holiday came to be celebrated in the former French colonies and is observed in those places maintaining links to France.
When is Bastille Day 2021?
Bastille Day is celebrated on Wednesday, July 14 , 2021. French jets trailing the national colours over Paris during Bastille Day celebrations, 2017.
When did the mob attack the Bastille?
During the unrest of 1789, on July 14 a mob approached the Bastille to demand the arms and ammunition stored there, and, when the forces guarding the structure resisted, the attackers captured the prison and released the seven prisoners held there.
When did July 14 become a national holiday?
July 14, often called la fête nationale in France, became an official holiday in 1880. From the beginning, speeches, military parades, and fireworks, along with public revelry, were part of the celebration. The slogan “Vive le 14 juillet!” (“Long live the 14th of July!”) has continued to be associated with the day.
Why is Bastille Day celebrated?
This day commemorates the important historical event of the storming of the Bastille in Paris on July 14, 1789. It was a revolt of the people suffering from the hardships ...
When is Bastille Eve in Paris?
Bastille Eve in Paris - Bastille Day Traditions - July 13. Paris is the place for the big festivities and events. The night before there is many public dances and private ones.
What was the revolt of the people of Bastille?
L’arrestation du gouverneur de la Bastille, le 14 juillet 1789 by Jean-Baptiste Lallemand. It was a revolt of the people suffering from the hardships of famine that plagued the country at the time and years of rule by a monarchy that lived like the kings they were, while the people literally starved. This event marked the beginning of the fall of ...
How many departments host a picnic in France?
Picnic hosted by 20 departments in France One of the largest organized picnics in the world.
Bastille Day (History, Tradition and Tips)
Let’s take a look at the history and all the things you need to know about this French national day.
What is Bastille Day?
Bastille Day is a public holiday in France, held every 14 July of the year.
Bastille Day History
It started on 11 July 1789, when King Louis XVI dismissed his Finance Minister, making the Parisians afraid that they would be attacked by the king’s army and mercenaries. This prompted their own attack on the Bastille, which, at the time, was a symbol of the absolutism of the monarchy.
What do French people do in Bastille Day?
Bastille Day is not only a commemoration of an important chapter in France’s history; it is also a day of celebrations of French culture.
Where to find the festivities for Bastille Day?
The oldest and largest military procession in Europe, the Bastille Day military parade occurs on July 14 morning of in the Champs-Elysées in Paris. It is attended by the French president and senior officials along with foreign guests.
Bastille Day Tips for First-Timers
If you’re joining the Bastille Day festivities for the first time, you can spend the entire day hopping from one event to the other. Here’s a list of things to enjoy on your first Bastille Day in Paris:
Bastille Day French Vocabulary
For the non-French, the national holiday observed in France on the 14th of July is called “Bastille Day.” The French, however, never call it that way.
What is the significance of Bastille Day?
Bastille Day: A little historical background. Bastille Day marks the date when the Parisians stormed the Bastille, an iconic prison and military fortress, in the early days of the French Revolution. Here is why that day is still relevant today.
What is the best way to celebrate Bastille Day?
Public dances. Public balls on the 13th and a 14th of July are a favorite way to celebrate Bastille Day. Even small towns usually offer some kind of dance party with live bands and DJs. Several are held in Paris, including the largest one at place de la Bastille, where the fortress once stood.
What is the national holiday of July 14?
As you may already know, the 14th of July is France’s national holiday. However, the French may be very surprised if you wish them a happy Bastille Day as it is locally known as “ La Fête Nationale ” or more simply, “ le quatorze juillet” (the fourteenth of July).
What was the Fête de la Fédération?
This massive party, known as the Fête de la Fédération (Celebration of the Federation), was the occasion for the King and the representatives to swear allegiance to the Nation. Unfortunately, this display of unity was short-lived, and Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were beheaded a few years later. See also:
What happened on July 14th 1789?
On the morning of July 14th, 1789, a mob took over the military hospital known as the Hotel des Invalides and seized 32,000 muskets and some cannons. However, they were missing one thing: gunpowder. Hence, they turned their sight on to the old royal fortress of Bastille where large quantities were stored.
How many soldiers are in the parade?
It involves over 4,200 soldiers, 220 vehicles and 100 aircraft and is often the occasion for the French president to honor foreign guests.
Why is July 14th celebrated?
The 14th of July as a French national holiday. The Third Republic was a time of political reconstruction for France. After the loss of the Alsace and Lorraine and the divide between Bonapartists, Monarchists, and Republicans, a strong unifying symbol was dearly needed.
Who wrote the book The Storming of the Bastille?
Jean-Pierre Houël (1735–1813), The Storming of the Bastille, 1789. Bibliothèque nationale de France
What is Quatorze Juillet about?
Quatorze Juillet inextricably embodies the curious and divisive legacy the French Revolution carries for the French. Beneath the veneer of celebrations, the question of the intrinsic nature of the Revolution and whether its goals — Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité — have been achieved is often relegated to the background.
Why was the Quatorze Juillet motion passed into law?
Thanks to the ambiguity of the date, the motion was passed into law — without specifying which Quatorze Juillet was to be commemorated. Raspail’s motion received the parliament’s approval based on the connection to the Fête, but the question of meaning was left open.
What was the purpose of the Fête de la Fédération?
1790’s Fête de la Fédération was designed to inaugurate a new era which abolished absolutism and gave birth to a French constitutional monarchy.
What decree declared August 15 National Day?
The imperial decree that proclaimed August 15 (Napoleon’s name day) as National Day. Bibliothèque nationale de France
How many times did France change its national day?
In a little less than a century, France changed its national day half a dozen times.
What was the name of the prison that the people of Paris attacked in 1789?
In 1789, the people of Paris attacked the Bastille: a political prison, a symbol of the monarchy and an armoury. The citizens aimed to seize weapons, ammunition and powder to fight the royal troops stationed in the vicinity of Paris.
What is the national celebration of Bastille Day?
Today is Bastille Day – known in France as the National Celebration – a holiday that memorializes the 1798 Storming of the Bastille, a medieval fortress used, at the time, to house political prisoners.
What is the food that is served on Bastille Day?
There are no official Bastille Day meals, but there’s really no better way to honor France than by indulging in French food: A breakfast of pastries, crepes, brioche, and croissants would be fitting, followed by a quiche for lunch, pâté, and onion soup.
When was the first Bastille Day?
The first Bastille Day celebration took place on July 14, 1879. A year later, Bastille Day celebrations became an official holiday. Since then, a military parade has been held in Paris to commemorate ...
Is there a better way to celebrate Bastille Day?
There’s no better day to indulge in rich cheese, flakey bread, savory tarts, and red wine at dinner. There’s no right way to eat food on Bastille Day, as long as you’re eating delicious, well made food – lots of it – and enjoying yourself. Here are 10 more ways people are celebrating Bastille Day with food. This spread pays homage ...
