Bastille Day is the French National Day, and it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14thJuly 1790. It was a key moment in the French Revolution, as the French citizens rose up against the monarchy. If you’ve ever wondered why the French celebrate Bastille Day, this article lays it out for you.
Bastille Day is basically France’s very own version of America’s Independence Day. It swings around just ten days later, on July 14th.
However, France’s big day isn’t a celebration of liberation from foreign rule, so it differs from American Independence Day is.
But what is it so important? What is it about this momentous occasion that sends the French wild with jubilation each year? These are just some of the great French language-learning resources available on this site.
The French Revolution
As the 18th century came to a close, the French people were not happy. Their right to freedom and democracy was under threat. In fact, life under the reign of the powerful Bourbon monarchy was not a democracy at all. The ruler, Louis XVI, seemingly did as he pleased, and the whole state was in economic, political and social chaos. A recipe for disaster. Anti-monarchist sentiment was bubbling, and France’s bumbling leader was under fire.
It was a hot summer day on July 14th in the year 1789. The people of France gathered together for a show of unity and power. One thousand of them stormed the Bastille prison and fortress in a bid to liberate hundreds of political “criminals”. These people had had the temerity to provoke the wrath of the monarchy. The stormers had to battle past the Royalists guards. Once inside, they only managed to liberate 7 prisoners, the consequences of what they’d done would be huge.
In fact, this “storming of Bastille” proved to be the match that ignited the torch paper of the French Revolution. The Revolution would massively alter the political landscape, not just of France, but of much of Europe. In the process, it would free the French from their tyrannical leadership. It eventually restored power to the people for the first time in centuries. However, this shift in power would only last a short while. Out of the upheaval, a new megalomaniac emerged – Napoleon and his infamous Reign of Terror.
The Storming of Bastille, though, accomplished several things. For starters, it revealed the fragility of the French monarchy. It restored power to the people. Finally, it inspired other countries to follow suit and abide by France’s motto, “liberté, egalité, fraternité.”
What Is Bastille Day Today?
Bastille Day is nowadays a national French holiday, and the French celebrate across the entire country. Parisians celebrate with fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, while a military-led parade marches all over the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. Each year, high-profile guests and leaders attend the celebrations, and Bastille Day is actually the biggest European annual military parade, as well as the longest-lasting in all the world. The first one occurred way back in 1880, and there has been a celebration every year on the same date. Citizens leave their homes to wave their tricolour flags, and families and friends party together in the streets, singing the French national anthem.
But while English speakers refer to it as Bastille Day, it’s La fete Nationale in France, which translates as the National Celebration.
So, there you have it. The next time you’re left wondering that Bastille Day is, you don’t need to scratch your head. Now that you know, you can go ahead and celebrate it, too! After all, tyranny sucks.
