If you have ever spent the 14th of July in France, you have probably seen it: fireworks, flags, a parade on TV... July 14th is France's National Day đ«đ·, la FĂȘte Nationale, often called Bastille Day in English.
Here is what actually happened on that day, and what people traditionally do today to mark it.
Part 1: The History, What Actually Happened on July 14th
The date everyone thinks of is July 14, 1789. That day, a crowd of Parisians stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison in the east of Paris. This event is known in French as la prise de la Bastille, literally "the taking of the Bastille", and it is how French people actually refer to it. At that point, the Bastille only held a handful of prisoners, so it was not really about freeing masses of people. It was a symbol. The Bastille represented the absolute power of the king, and attacking it was a way of saying that the people would no longer accept that power without question.
The storming of the Bastille is considered the spark that lit the French Revolution, the moment when centuries of monarchy started to crumble, which led eventually to the fall of the monarchy itself a few years later.
Here is a detail that surprises a lot of my students: the French national holiday does not only commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789. It also celebrates la FĂȘte de la FĂ©dĂ©ration, which happened exactly one year later, on July 14, 1790. This was a huge celebration on the Champ de Mars in Paris, meant to represent national unity after the first year of the revolution. People from all over France came together, and it was actually a joyful, peaceful event, very different from the violence of 1789.
So when France celebrates July 14th, it is really honoring both moments at once: the uprising and the unity that followed.
Part 2: What People Actually Do in France Today
Now let's talk about today. If you ask a French person what they do on July 14th, most will just shrug and say it is un jour férié, a public holiday. Shops are closed, offices are closed, and people take advantage of the day off, especially since July is already the start of summer holidays for many. This year the 14th falls on a Tuesday, so a lot of companies do what is called faire le pont, taking the Monday off too and turning it into a four day weekend.
That said, there are a few traditions that do happen every year:
In Paris, there is a military parade in the morning on the Champs Elysées, watched by the President and foreign guests, with the Patrouille de France flying over and leaving blue, white and red smoke trails behind them. It is broadcast live on television every year. In the evening, Paris also gets its own huge fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower, with crowds gathered all along the Seine to watch (this year, exceptionally, the fireworks show happened on the 13th).
In towns and villages all over France, the real tradition is the evening fireworks too. Almost every town, even small ones, organizes a fireworks show.Â
Before the fireworks, many towns also organize un bal des pompiers, a firefighters' ball. Local fire stations open their doors on the nights of the 13th and 14th and turn into a dance party for the whole town. It is casual and a bit kitsch, and yes, the firefighters are often shirtless, which probably explains part of the popularity.
So to sum it up: parade for those who care to watch, fireworks for everyone, and a day off to enjoy the start of summer. As for greetings, between regular people, at most you might hear a simple "joyeux 14 juillet" or "bonne fĂȘte nationale", but even that is rare.
A Little Personal Note
Growing up in Toulouse, July 14th in my family was simple: no flags, no special breakfast, just my parents asking "on va voir le feu d'artifice ce soir?" and that was it. That is honestly the whole tradition for a lot of French families, and I think that is part of the charm. It does not need to be a huge celebration to matter.Â
A Quick Vocabulary Recap for Learners
Le 14 juillet: July 14th
La prise de la Bastille: the storming of the Bastille
Un jour férié: a public holiday
Faire le pont: to take a long weekend
Un feu d'artifice: fireworks
Le bal des pompiers: the firefighters' ball
La FĂȘte Nationale: the National holiday
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