French National DayParisian revolutionary day become the French National Day, July 14 associates today the solemnity of the military processions and the user-friendliness of the balls and the fireworks. The storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789, is commemorated in France since more than one century.
The storming of the Bastille
In the first months of the French revolution, a great agitation reigns in Paris. In spring 1789, the States General refused to be dissolves and were transformed into National Parliament. In July, the king Louis XVI got come new troops and returns Necker, minister popular. The morning of July 14, the people of Paris take weapons and moves towards an old royal fortress, the Bastille. After a bloody shooting, it seizes and delivers the few prisoners who were locked up there. The storming of the Bastille is the first victory of the people of Paris against a symbol of old regime. The building is completely demolished besides in the months, which follow. The "festival of the Federation", July 14, 1790, celebrates in large pump the first birthday of the insurrection. The national festival Thereafter, the commemoration of July 14, 1789 is given up, until third Republic; seek to celebrate the bases of the mode. On proposal of the deputy of the Seine, Benjamin Raspail, the law of July 6, 1880 made become of July 14, the French National Day of the Republic. The stress is laid, from the very start, on the patriotic and military character of the demonstration, in order to testify to the rectification of France after the defeat of 1870. All the communes are concerned. The festival begins with a torchlight procession the 13 at the evening. The following day, the bells of the churches or the salvos announce the procession, follow-up of a lunch, spectacles and plays. The balls and fireworks finish the day. After the austerity of the war of 1914-1918, July 14, 1919 is a great celebration of the victory. In the same spirit , July 14, 1945 is preceded by three days by civic rejoicings. July 14 today July 14, the French National Day is always a great success. In Paris, the traditional military procession on the Champs-Elysées is the subject of a meticulous preparation. Everywhere are held balls, illuminations or fireworks. The presidents of the 5th Republic made some modifications to the course of the day. To join again with the tradition of revolutionary Paris, President Giscard d'Estaing made ravel the troops between the place of the Bastille and the place of the Republic. With in the chair François Mitterrand, the French national Day July 14, 1989 was one strong moment of the celebration of the bicentenary of the French revolution. Many foreign Heads of State could attend in particular "the Marseillaise", spectacle of Jean-Paul Goude. In 1994, German soldiers take part in the procession on the Champs-Elysées as a sign of reconciliation. Since the election of President Chirac, many young people come from whole France, and soldiers are invited to the reception, which is given in the park of the Elysée palace after the procession.
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