Bastille Day

Bastille Day is the national holiday of France. It is celebrated every year on July 14. The day remembers an important event from the French Revolution. On this day in 1789, French people took over a famous prison called the Bastille. This action helped lead to more freedom for the people of France.

The Story of the Bastille

The Bastille was a prison in the city of Paris. It stood as a symbol of a harsh king and unfair rules. On July 14, 1789, a crowd of people stormed the prison. They wanted freedom and better lives. This event helped start the French Revolution, which changed France forever.

How It Is Celebrated

France holds a huge parade down a famous street called the Champs-Elysees. Soldiers march and jets fly overhead with red, white, and blue smoke. These are the colors of the French flag. At night, fireworks light up the sky near the Eiffel Tower. Families gather for picnics, concerts, and dancing in the streets.

Fun Facts

• The parade in Paris is one of the oldest military parades in Europe.
• French people simply call the holiday le 14 juillet, which means the 14th of July.
• Only seven prisoners were actually inside the Bastille when it was stormed.

Did You Know?

The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, is played many times during Bastille Day. It was written in 1792, just a few years after the revolution began.