On 14 July, France celebrates 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 Menton
+ Bastille Day in Paris
+ Bastille Day in New York City
+ Bastille Day in Santa Barbara, CA
+ How and where are you celebrating Bastille Day?
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 Menton
+ Bastille Day in Paris
+ Bastille Day in New York City
+ Bastille Day in Santa Barbara, CA
+ How and where are you celebrating Bastille Day?
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??????
Even if the Declaration of Independence does not explicitly state it, the concept is inarguably implicit in the message. And of course you have the Federalist Papers and the US Constitution that were written before 1789 as well. So to suggest that France was the first country to explicity state the right to self-determination is pretty … well, ridiculous. I love France at least as much as the next guy, but come on…
The Federalist Papers were not a government policy document, but a polemical political statement about the proposed Constitution, albeit a very excellent one. The Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man are more comparable and are statements of policy made by legislative bodies. Ms. Lawless’ position is not ridiculous — but it is arguable and she makes good arguments for it.
I understand Iceland instituted a democracy in 930 AD… they just don’t fuss about it!
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.
Do people decorate for Bastille Day like Americans do for the Fourth of July?
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!
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!!
Bonne fête à tous. Laura, est-ce-que c’est votre première fois d’être en France le 14 juillet?
We lived in France for a few years when I was very little, I really thought it was amazing the french were celebrating my mum’s birthday. Later she made sure we knew what was really the special day as we are of french canadian descent.
what do the french eat on bastille day?
Frog legs a la Provencal plus anything they want.
When I was growing up in the 1960’s in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, we always knew when it was Bastille Day, because there were so many French flags flying from houses along Clifton Boulevard, the largest street in town.