Bastille Day, sometimes referred to as the American Spring Festival, is the second largest festival in France. This celebration is often marked by a great celebration with parades and general unrest. There are many different traditions that surround this day in France, and those who observe this festival usually do so with much pomp and circumstance.
However, when you hear about the history of Bastille Day, you may be more interested in what this special day meant to France and to the people that were there during the Revolution.
When Is Bastille Day?
- Year > 2021
- Date > 14th July
- Weekday > Wednesday
Bastille Day History
Bastille Day was started when the National Assembly was discussing the rights of French citizens. When this bill was being debated, a crowd of people began setting fire to the Bastille, which is one of the symbols of Paris as a city. The smoke caused the doors to lock, and then the doors were locked again as the entire city came under attack. When the crowds grew to become unruly and riotous, the National Assembly was forced to relocate to another location.
When the relocated assembly was finally relocated to Paris, they declared the beginning of the world’s first free and democratic government. For two years, they experimented with holding the Bastille Day celebration every year, but it was not until 1792 that the official celebration of Bastille Day began. This bold move ignited the spark of American Independence, and the United States declared their independence from England. Two hundred years later, we are still celebrating the memory of the brave men who gave up their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy today. This past weekend saw the grand opening of the Bastille Day museum in Paris, which is dedicated to the memory of all those who lost their lives during the revolution.
Bastille Day Celebrations
During the evening prior to Bastille Day, people in the general public can begin to celebrate and enjoy the holiday by attending parades. Many parades are sponsored by the City of Paris, and the entire area is decorated with festive colors and symbols representing the spirit of the day. Some of the more popular places to take in the parades include: Place de la Concorde, Place de la Loire, Place du Champs Elysee, and in some locations even outside of Paris itself, Place d’ Scope.
The celebration ends with a fireworks display at the end of the day, or as soon as the weather permits, as the case may be. The Bastille Day celebration is a grand celebration in and of itself, but there is also the possibility of an evening celebration as well.
Bastille Day Traditions
On July 14 th there is the Bastille Day, which is considered to be the most national holiday there is, besides Christmas. In fact on this day French people observe a form of national independence day, because the French nation was left alone after the collapse of the revolution. This is also a commemoration of how the people of the French republic gained their freedom from the rule of the revolution and how they later regrouped and established a nation state. This national holiday is not only celebrated in France, but also in several other countries in Europe and South America.
In many parts of Europe people actually celebrate Bastille Day with parades, and street parties taking place in many neighborhoods. The day is also marked with special music, literature readings, and traditional street games. In the United States however, Bastille Day has more of a purely culinary meaning. People celebrate this special holiday by eating homemade cakes and other food items that are rich with cream and sugar.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply