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The 35 Best Happy Bastille Day Greetings to Share
By Kellye Fox,
3 days ago
Happy Bastille Day! This public holiday, reminiscent of America’s 4th of July , is celebrated with activities like parties, concerts, balls and fireworks. Residents exchange Happy Bastille Day greetings , and it’s not uncommon to hear people singing the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise." Plus, France’s blue, white, and red tricolor flags are on full display across the nation.
In France, and around the world, this day is symbolized as a patriotic and military event, but it has evolved into a celebration that begins on July 13 with an evening torchlight parade. On July 14, gun salutes and church bells ring to give notice of the military parade, followed by games, dancing, etc. Troops have marched along the Champs-Elysées in Paris every year since Bastille Day 1880. France’s Military Parade is one of the oldest annual events.
You don’t have to be French to appreciate the historical significance of this event, especially if it honors freedom , rebirth and independence. And who needs an excuse to eat Bastille Day recipes and enjoy France in the summer?! Grab your beret and learn more about this day—and get ready to repeat these greetings for Bastille Day to say to fellow revelers.
The fall of Bastille is celebrated annually on July 14th (Le 14 Juillet). It’s also called “Fête Nationale” (French National Day). It wasn’t until July 6, 1880, that Parliament designated July 14 a national holiday.
The word "Bastille" means "prison" or "jail." In this instance, Bastille Day is the English name of the French national holiday that marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an 8-tower fortress and prison with 100-foot-high walls. It was built in the 14th century and was used to house political prisoners and citizens. At that time, France was ruled by a corrupt monarchy, led by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette .
On July 14, 1789, an angry mob reached the Bastille’s main gates to demand that the prison’s governor, Marquis de Launay, release the ammunition and arms stored in the prison. When the king’s authorities refused, the revolutionaries charged into the prison and were met with gunfire.
During the fight, seven prisoners were freed, but hundreds were wounded and dozens were killed.
This event marked the beginning of the French Revolution and influenced how the country would be shaped. The fall of the Bastille symbolized the end of the oppressive rule of the monarchy and the birth of the modern French nation. Bastille Day isn’t named after the storming of the fortress, but rather, it celebrates the formation of the new government that took place in 1790.
Here’s an interesting fact for you: the key to the Bastille is stored at former president George Washington ’s house in Mount Vernon, Virginia. Once the prison was torn down, a French military officer named Marquis de Lafayette sent it to his friend, George Washington, in 1790.
How to Say "Happy Bastille Day" in French
It’s not customary for French people to wish each other a Happy Bastille Day to convey well-wishes on this holiday. However, "Happy Bastille Day" is translated to “Bonne Fête Nationale” for my French-speaking friends.
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