France is in the final of the FIFA World cup 2018 which is happening in Russia, but the French people are celebrating a day ahead of Les Blues will clash with Croatia on Sunday as France is celebrating its Nation Day of Saturday (July 14th).
BASTILLE Day is one of the most important dates in the French calendar and is celebrated with parades, parties and plenty of food.
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Why is Bastille Day celebrated?
Bastille Day is the French national day, which marks the storming of the Bastille in the 1700s, and is known as La Fête Nationale Française in French.
In the Indian context, it’s just like the Independence Day. The date marks the beginning of republican democracy and the end of the tyrannical rule.
In the 18th century, France was in a deep economic and political crisis and people were unhappy with King Louis XVI’s reign, which was dominated by food shortages and high taxes.
The Bastille was a medieval fortress and prison, which held many political dissidents, and had become a symbol of oppression and injustice in Paris.
On July 14, 1789, an angry mob stormed the Bastille and released the prisoners – of which there were just seven at the time – before stealing the weapons stored inside.
How is Bastille Day celebrated?
People attend large public events, including parades, performances and firework displays.
The French capital Paris witness a big military parade called the Fete de la Federation held along the Champs-Elysee, where military personnel march, ride and drive while aircraft fly over the route.
This is the oldest military parade in the world and thousands of people line the streets to watch.
The event is usually opened by the French president, who addresses the troops and attended by world leaders.
People also mark the occasion with communal meals filled with traditional French dishes and street parties.