Célébrons ! 
Bastille Day
Sunday July 12, 2009
On 14 July, France will celebrate its national holiday in commemoration of the storming of the Bastille prison, which took place in 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Do you know what this event represents? Learn all about Bastille Day - in French or English - and listen to the Marseillaise.
What English speakers call Bastille Day the French call le 14 juillet. If you want to wish French speaker a happy Bastille Day, « Bonne Bastille ! » just doesn't work; you can only say « Joyeux Quatorze Juillet ! » or simply « Bonne fête ! » However, it's not really customary to do so - when I do, the French seem a little surprised.
+ Bastille Day history, flag, and related links
+ Article sur le Quatorze Juillet
+ Bastille Day vocabulary
+ Bastille Day ideas for French teachers
Bastille Day Celebrations
+ How to celebrate à la française
+ Bastille Day in Albuquerque, NM
+ Bastille Day in Boston, MA
+ Bastille Day in London, England
+ Bastille Day in Milwaukee, WI
+ Bastille Day in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
+ Bastille Day in New York City
+ Bastille Day in Perth, Australia
+ Bastille Day in Philadelphia, PA
+ Bastille Day in Portland, OR
+ Bastille Day in San Francisco, CA
+ Bastille Day in Santa Barbara, CA
+ Bastille Day in Seattle, WA
+ Bastille Day in West Palm Beach, FL
What English speakers call Bastille Day the French call le 14 juillet. If you want to wish French speaker a happy Bastille Day, « Bonne Bastille ! » just doesn't work; you can only say « Joyeux Quatorze Juillet ! » or simply « Bonne fête ! » However, it's not really customary to do so - when I do, the French seem a little surprised.
+ Bastille Day history, flag, and related links
+ Article sur le Quatorze Juillet
+ Bastille Day vocabulary
+ Bastille Day ideas for French teachers
Bastille Day Celebrations
+ How to celebrate à la française
+ Bastille Day in Albuquerque, NM
+ Bastille Day in Boston, MA
+ Bastille Day in London, England
+ Bastille Day in Milwaukee, WI
+ Bastille Day in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
+ Bastille Day in New York City
+ Bastille Day in Perth, Australia
+ Bastille Day in Philadelphia, PA
+ Bastille Day in Portland, OR
+ Bastille Day in San Francisco, CA
+ Bastille Day in Santa Barbara, CA
+ Bastille Day in Seattle, WA
+ Bastille Day in West Palm Beach, FL
Comments
From your article on Bastille Day:
“On the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, delegates from every region of France proclaimed their allegiance to a single national community during the Fête de la Fédération in Paris – the first time in history that a people had claimed their right to self-determination.”
Umm, July 4, 1776??????
I am not a historian, but here are some sources which I feel support my claim:
Human Development Report 2000 Background Paper
http://hdr.undp.org/docs/publications/background_papers/Vizard2000.html
In France, the ideals and principles of the Revolution were marred by the violation of human rights during the subsequent “Terror”. Nevertheless, the break with traditional ideas of the absolute rule of kings and divine right, and of privilege, rank and hierarchy, inaugurated a new period in human history. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) recognised fundamental individual rights and freedoms, and declared these to be the basis of government. The Declaration unleashed an unprecedented debate about the nature and scope of human rights. New ideas and movements relating to the rights of free black people, the abolition of slavery, economic and social rights, the position of women, national independence and the idea of self-determination, were born and established in this period.
On People’s Human Rights
http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/1365.html
The modern history of human rights for “the people” began with the American Independence Revolution and French Revolution. The Declaration of Independence, which was issued in July 1776, asserted the right of the people to resist, to alter or to abolish their government. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France, issued in August 1789, incorporated Jean Rousseau’s theory of popular sovereignty as a provision in its Article 3: “The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation.” This article is a manifestation of an oppressed citizenry’s right to self-determination in opposition against tyranny. In May 1790, French Constituent Assembly issued a series of laws related to people’s rights.
- – - – -
In my opinion, the Declaration of Independence did not explicitly state the right of the American people to self-determination; thus my claim that France was the first country to do so.
I just love a woman that knows here stuff! I think Laura is intellectually gorgeous!
Why wouldn’t it be okay to say “happy bastille day” and what does the other phrase translate to? (I don’t speak french as you can tell…)
Well, I say Joyeux Quatorze Juillet to everyone. Let’s go raid a prison.
I always find it mildly amusing when people complain about the violence factor of the “Star-Spangled Banner”. Though I’m not a fan of bombs bursting in air either, our national anthem has NOTHING on the Marseillaise, in terms of sheer violence. In fact, it’s so over-the-top that I find it kind of funny.
Salut Anne -
What English speakers call “Bastille Day” is known as le jour de la prise de la Bastille (the day of the storming/taking of the Bastille prison) or, more commonly and simply, le Quatorze Juillet (the Fourteenth of July). So it doesn’t make sense to just literally translate “Happy Bastille Day” into Bonne Bastille – it would be kind of like saying “Happy Sing Sing” or “Happy Alcatraz.”
Laura K. Lawless
Learn French at About
Do people decorate for Bastille Day like Americans do for the Fourth of July?
Salut Connie -
No, not at all. There are some flags and banners around town that were put up by the city, but I haven’t seen a single person wearing blue-white-red, or any flags on houses. Generally speaking, the French are approximately one billion times less patriotic than Americans.
Laura K. Lawless
Learn French at About
I remember celebrating Bastille Day when I lived in France. The village near where I lived always had a huge picnic that went through well into the evening and finished with a huge fireworks display. I loved it and looked forward to it every year. The nearest we have here in the UK is Bonfire night.
My husband, who is a bit of a history buff, tells me that many of those who stormed the Bastille were women, fishmongers and the like. Is that true?
I think women played a large role in the events leading up to 14 July. They were very angry about the high cost of bread, for one thing.
That looks like fun. I might just look up the festivities on Monday with my family. They’re in town on Bastille day and that could be an interesting excursion for all of us. Thanks!
Know how I first learned about Bastille Day? From reading “A Tale of Two Cities” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”. I had SUCH the crush on the Count – sigh!
You mention that the “Joyeux Quatorze” greeting is not customary. Is there a 14 Juillet greeting that *is* customary?
Having just arrived home from Bastille Day celebrations in paris (my wife is french, i am english) , it seems Bastille Day is now just something to add to the list of worlwide affairs hijacked my the beastlty Americans . I have just had four days of listening to spoilt teenage american brats bitching about friends etc and the general crass level that the American psyche seems to bring everthing down to.
Well, I am seeking information on how best to enjoy Bastille Day in Paris during the few days that my family and I will be there. I am saddened to see such a post as Neil’s amid the well-intended responses; he betrays ignorance and clear-cut bigotry against 300 million people based on encountering a few spoiled teenagers. Or perhaps he believes that American reality TV shows reflect reality in American culture; I can assure you that they do not come close. Perhaps I should draw my opinion of English culture from Graham Norton, Benny Hill, the “Office,” or a host of other “entertainment” that purports to comment on popular culture. I would love to talk to Neil about the “American psyche” that he believes he understands so well.
By one of the rare coincidences of history it was on 13th July 1931 that a chance provocation led the people of Kashmir to attack the CENTRAL JAIL of the feudal ruler the MAHARAJAH demanding democratic rights for the Kashmiris.Led by Sheikh Abdullah the people forced the Maharajah to grant this right and Kashmir became the first princely state of British India to have a democratically elected assembly. The 13th of July is every year celeberated as “Martyrs Day” in both Pakistan and Indian administered Kashmir and both Pakistan and India recognize it as a day of celebration for the people of Kashmir where it is a government holiday.
somewhere in the small pacific island nation of papua new guinea, the capital city port moresby to be exact, we’re celebrating Bastille Day at the university of papua new guinea even though we were colonised by australians and stuff like that. the university along with the french embasy and the alliance fracaise de port moresby have come together to celebrate the french national day… should be interesting….
Thank-you. Your Bastille knowledge was helpful to wish my French teacher a happy day! Thanks and I hope this helps others!
Time for my traditional Bastille Day joke:
Marie Antoinette’s last words:
“ICE CREAM! I said, let them eat cake and ICE CREAM!”
I disagree with the idea that the French lack patriotism. I was in Paris for Bastille Day five years ago and was impressed by the magnificent celebration, with everyone coming together and enjoying themselves, without much in the way of violence/negativity (despite many people celebrating being very drunk). Also, I did not notice that Americans were taking over the day, but this may be because I was part of a group of bilingual students from Canada. Bastille Day really is unlike any holiday I have ever experienced in North America!
West — how did people celebrate it. You make it sound fabulous but could you give some specifics because I would love to be there to experience it myself and that would be the next best thing?
And yet all my French friends, including those at the French Consul! say just that in order to shorten Bonne fête de la Bastille à la belle France. Go figure.
I enjoyed this post about Bastille day. As an American living in France (Bordeaux) with my French hubby, I was again able to celebrate Bastille day this week. Because of that American urge to say “Happy… of July!!” I am always tempted to say “joyeux 14 juillet !” But as Laura said, a bit of observation made me calm down, realize I was about the only person that had that urge, and just keep my exclamation to myself.
I’ve noticed people mostly enjoy taking advantage of the day to get outside, spend time with family friends, eat GOOD food 
and end the day with good ol’ fireworks. Yay for Bastille day!!