France Bastille Day also known as the country’s national day – is celebrated every year on July 14 with military parades and fireworks. The national holiday marks the fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. On this day, the traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysées is a “meticulously planned spectacle, and dancing and fireworks displays or special illuminations are organized all over the country.”
During the early months of the French Revolution, Paris was in a state of high agitation as the Estates-General refused to dissolve, transforming itself instead into a constituent National Assembly. In July 1789, King Louis XVI called in fresh troops and dismissed his popular minister Jacques Necker.
People celebrate the day with fanfare and excitement as fireworks are seen over the Eiffel Tower. Around the world, francophiles celebrate Bastille Day by hosting French-themed meals or attending concerts featuring French music.
