What is Bastille Day?
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Bastille Day is commonly used in English to describe France’s national day on July 14. In France, it is widely referred to as “le 14 juillet” and is also called “la Fête nationale” or “le Quatorze Juillet” (the 14th of July).
July 14 commemorates the storming of the Bastille in Paris on July 14, 1789, a major turning point early in the French Revolution. It also references July 14, 1790, the Fête de la Fédération, a large public celebration intended to symbolize national unity in the revolution’s first anniversary.
Bastille Day Fast Facts
- Date: July 14 (annually)
- French names: le 14 juillet; la Fête nationale; le Quatorze Juillet
- What it commemorates: The Bastille (1789) and the Fête de la Fédération (1790)
- Official holiday law: Promulgated on July 6, 1880
- First national celebration under that law: July 14, 1880
- Prisoners freed from the Bastille (1789): 7
Why July 14 Matters in French History
July 14, 1789: Storming of the Bastille
On July 14, 1789, Parisians seized the Bastille, a fortress-prison that had become a potent symbol of royal authority. Although the Bastille held only seven prisoners at the time, the event’s political meaning far outweighed its military or prison function, and it quickly became an emblem of revolution and popular sovereignty.
July 14, 1790: Fête de la Fédération
On the first anniversary of the Bastille’s fall, France held the Fête de la Fédération—a massive civic festival meant to represent unity and reconciliation among citizens during the revolution’s early phase. This “unity” interpretation is one reason July 14 became the enduring national date.
When Did Bastille Day Become France’s Official National Holiday?
France made July 14 the annual national day through a law that was promulgated on July 6, 1880, shortly before the first official national celebration later that month. Modern French government references commonly describe the day as structured around two major elements: a military parade and popular festivities.
How Bastille Day Is Celebrated
- Military parade in Paris: The annual Défilé du 14 juillet is held in Paris and is one of the best-known public events associated with the holiday.
- Fireworks and concerts: Many cities hold fireworks displays and public performances on the evening of July 14.
- Community events: Local celebrations often include public dances, street festivals, and civic ceremonies.
Bastille Day Facts
- Date of celebration: Bastille Day is observed every year on July 14.
- What the date commemorates: The storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération in 1790.
- French names: Common French usage includes le 14 juillet, la Fête nationale, and le Quatorze Juillet.
- Official holiday law: The law establishing July 14 as the annual national day was promulgated on July 6, 1880.
- Prisoners freed in 1789: The Bastille contained seven prisoners when it was stormed.
Bastille Day remains a major civic holiday in France and a widely recognized cultural event internationally, especially through French communities and official events hosted by French institutions abroad.
Photo by Joe deSousa on Unsplash