Or as this American says:
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Happy Bastille Day!!!
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Whether you call it Bastille Day, 14 juillet, La Fête Nationale, French Independence Day, or the French Fourth of July—ten days later and with better food, today is the day!
What does Bastille Day commemorate? On July 14, 1789, anti-monarchists stormed the Bastille [prison] in Paris, and the French Revolution was born. Who cares if there were only seven prisoners, and the mob was really looking for ammo? It’s the thought that counts.
Next to Halloween and July 4, Bastille Day is my favorite holiday. Not sure whether you want to take the Bastille Day plunge? To help you decide, here are a few things I love about Bastille Day:
- Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower.
Yann Caradec/flickrcc
- An excuse to celebrate liberty, equality, and fraternity—we could use more of those.
- Military parades down the Champs-Élysées.
- Can you think of a better reason to sing La Marseillaise along with one of the greatest movies ever made?—lyrics here.
- French wine and champagne – Okay, they have nothing to do with Bastille Day, but they are French and traditional.
- Who can resist a Bastille Day feast? We’re not talking hot dogs, burgers, and beer, folks.
- Don’t want to cook? Bastille Day is the perfect justification for visiting your favorite French bistro.
- Viewing the Patrouille de France over Paris.
Redskin83/Flickrcc
Can’t get a flight to Paris in time? It’s cool on YouTube, too:
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◾ My favorite thing about Bastille Day?
I get to hear Vive Le France
when someone ISN’T making fun of my name.
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Vive La France!
Vive La Republique!
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
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Do you have a favorite holiday?
State your case!
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**An earlier Version of this post appeared in 2011.
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**A version of this post appeared in 2011. Had to recycle because I’m too busy celebrating to blog today.
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VR BARKOWSKI 
I’ve never live in any area with significant French influence, so all of this is new to me. Halloween is still my favorite, for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who knows me at all.
A zillion years ago, I belonged to a [free] champagne club in the Napa Valley that was run by a French parent company. The club used to send out packages of goodies to celebrate Bastille Day: A chef’s hat, an apron, a champagne stopper, etc. That’s when I started celebrating.
I had never given Bastille Day much thought until years ago a soap opera I watched had an episode where two of the characters were in France and celebrated. It is a wonderful holiday and the fireworks make you happy for freedom no matter where you live.
I agree, Mason. And this year is the 225th anniversary of the French Revolution, so I’m sure the celebration will be even bigger than usual
I’ve never given Bastille Day much thought either. Sometimes I wish for a revolution in the US, but I’m afraid the “wrong” side would be the ones revolting. Of course that depends on which side you favor, doesn’t it? To be totally common, I love Thanksgiving. It’s always at a friend’s house, all our kids are usually there, and this year we will have the first grandchild attending.
Those are wonderful reasons to love Thanksgiving, Polly, and Ella’s first year will make all the holidays more special. She is so beautiful!
Thanks, V.R.
I never see it celebrated around here at all. As for favorite holiday, christmas wins.
Clearly a traditionalist, Pat. 🙂
Fun post! Bastille Day sounds like a good excuse to fix coq au vin for dinner instead of fried chicken. Works for me!
My favorite holiday? Post-retirement, every day is like a holiday, and any day we spend with any of our grandchildren is my “favorite.” Speaking purely of traditional holidays, I guess Christmas is tops, because we get to spend it with a good bit of our kids and grandkids, and everyone is in a super-good mood.
I usually plan a menu for Bastille Day, but this year I didn’t. Coq au vin sounds lovely. All I need is some vin. 🙂
Sounds like you’re making your holidays, Susan. Those are the best kind!
Happy Bastille Day. No, I don’t have a favorite holiday. I have reasons why I hate most of the ones that we have, but I won’t go into them.
Ok, I’m intrigued. If you’re as good at piquing curiosity in your stories as you are in this comment, Liz, I see a bestseller in your future.
I worked all night until 8 A.M so I have slept most of the day, so I am late. Sorry. I love that scene from CASABLANCA. In fact, on my front door, I have the movie poster of CASABLANCA. As I leave, I say to Ingrid: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
I am such a kid myself! Favorite holidays? I love what Christmas used to mean and try to cling to the ghosts of its spirit. Like you, I enjoy Halloween. Who doesn’t love to dress up in costume — especially here in the land of Mardi Gras?
Ahh… Mardi Gras. Now you’re talking, Roland!
I worked retail for a lot of years and that dampened my Christmas spirit. There were so many unhappy, disgruntled shoppers. I wanted to shout at them to go home, spend time with their families, and remember what the holiday was about. I’m better now, but the memory lingers… Always best to be a kid at Christmas. 😉
Any holiday that celebrates liberty, equality, and fraternity is a good thing. I have a tiny drop of France in my blood from one adventurous soul early in our country’s history.
Agreed, Carol. Can’t ever have enough liberty, equality, or fraternity!
I think my favourite holiday has to be Christmas. I love that exciting feeling of waking up on Christmas morning…spoiling my loved ones…and that sense of peace and love in the world. People in general seem to be more compassionate at that time of the year. The winter would be very long and dreary without it.
While I bemoan the commercialization of Christmas, I agree it still brings with it a message of peace and family. And you are so right. Without it, winters would be very dark indeed.