[Written for Le Courrier Australien]
Each year on the 14th of July, France celebrates its national holiday, with events happening in Australia for both the French community and French culture enthusiasts. In Sydney, the Alliance Française is notably organising a Bastille Day party at the Argyle. This year’s theme, “Around the World,” will allow guests to experience culture from beyond mainland France, notably New Caledonia and French Polynesia, as well as West Africa.
With celebrations kicking off tomorrow, now is a good time for Francophiles to learn a few little-known facts about this noteworthy occasion.
It’s not just about the Bastille
When parliamentarians reunited to decide on a date for a national day, the task was not easy. The year was 1880, 91 years after the storming of the Bastille jail, and France had seen multiple Republics, Empires, and even a Restoration of the Monarchy.
The 14 of July 1789 is the exact date of the storming of the royal jail by the revolutionary, but it was also associated with violence at the time. One year after that, on the 14th of July 1790, a uniting “Festival of the Federation” was held. Former absolute King Louis XVI was present and vowed to honour the young French constitutional monarchy.
90 years later, the French parliament decided that the 14th of July would be a unifying date.
And the French constitution does not specify whether it refers to any year in particular.
1880 and 1980 are two important dates to remember
In 1880, the French parliament set the 14th of July as the National day. French writer Victor Hugo, a Senator at the time, declared that the storming of the Bastille marked “the awakening of freedom.”
“It’s the celebration for all nations!” Hugo proclaimed.
One hundred years later, in 1980, the traditional military parade was organised on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. The famous avenue is where the French military displays its strength every year ever since.
There were only 7 prisoners in the Bastille jail… and some were sent back soon after!
The Bastille jail was more of a symbol than anything else; a prison where the king could arbitrarily send people. But on the 14th of July 1789, only 7 people were imprisoned, and the King wanted to close it.
Gun powder stocks were also a reason why the revolutionaries attacked it. And they indeed released the prisoners, but two of them (an attempted king’s slayer and a mentally ill nobleman) were sent into a psychiatric ward the following day.
The Bastille stones are used in a different way today.
If you’ve been to Paris, you’ve no doubt paid a visit to the Place de la Concorde. The beautiful classical architecture would almost make you forget that it is where Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were beheaded! And the bridge connecting the square to the National Assembly is made of the Bastille jail stones; “So that the people could continually trample on the ancient fortress”, according to architect Jean-Rodolphe Perronet.
In 2016, Australia and New-Zealand became involved.
To commemorate both nations’ involvement in the First World War- notably the Battle of the Somme a hundred years prior- the ANZAC armed forces took part in the military parade for the first time. Some 140 Australians and 85 New Zealanders led the procession through the Champs-Elysées Avenue.
This military parade is a major annual event where France’s military forces highlight their strength under the eyes of the French President, other officials, spectators, and viewers.
Tickets for the Alliance française event are available here.
The event will feature Malian-born guitarist Moussa Diakite, who will perform with his band, as well as Parisian DJ Madame Rêve.
Those attending can also expect to enjoy French cuisine and “notably delicious crepes,” according to the organisers of the party.
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