Bastille Day observed in France on 14 July

Bastille Day observed in France on 14 July

Bastille Day is the National Day of France observed on 14 July every year to mark the storming of the Bastille Prison on 14 July 1789, which signifies the start of the French Revolution in the true sense.

Key Points:

• Bastille Day is often referred to as la fête Nationale in France and was declared an official holiday in 1880.
• The slogan “Vive le 14 juillet!” (“Long live 14 July!”), which is associated with the day, and it is celebrated with military parades, speeches, and fireworks, by the masses.
• The day is observed by the former French colonies, its overseas territories and the territories associated with France.
• The Bastille Prison is located in Paris and was built as a medieval fortress but was converted into a state prison where the authorities held political prisoners and citizens for trials.
• The use of the fort was later stopped as a prison by the 18th century and was to be demolished, but it came to be seen as a symbolism for the harsh rule of the Bourbon Monarchy.
• The unrest of 1789 led to the capturing of the fort and symbolized the end of the ancient regime.
• Bastille Day 2020 saw the french territories pay tribute to the front line health workers who died fighting the pandemic and those who are working for the masses.