press green flag ends in Tue, Jul 14, 2026
Bastille Day (officially known as La Fête Nationale in France) is celebrated annually on July 14th. It commemorates the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution, and celebrates the unity of the French people during the Fête de la Fédération in 1790.History and SignificanceThe Storming: On July 14, 1789, a crowd of revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and political prison in Paris.Symbolism: Although it held only a handful of prisoners at the time, the Bastille was a symbol of the absolute power and abuses of King Louis XVI's monarchy. Seizing it provided the revolutionaries with gunpowder and marked the official start of the French Revolution.Creation of the Holiday: The day was established as a national public holiday in 1880 to foster French national pride and unity.How It Is CelebratedMilitary Parade: France hosts the world's oldest and largest regular military parade along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, reviewed by the President of France.Fireworks & Parties: Cities and towns across France host public dances (often called Bals des Pompiers or firefighters' balls), community feasts, and magnificent fireworks displays, most notably over the Eiffel Tower.Global Observances: The holiday is celebrated worldwide, particularly in countries with strong historic ties to France or local French-American organizations, such as in New York and New Orleans.Local CelebrationsIf you are looking to celebrate in the Santa Clara area, local chapters like the Alliance Française de Silicon Valley and the French-American Chamber of Commerce often host regional community events, dinners, and gatherings to mark the national holiday.
