Bastille Day

While Americans are celebrating National Nude Day and National Grand Marnier Day on July 14, folks in France are celebrating another annual event – Bastille Day! This national holiday commemorates the July 14th, 1789, storming of the Bastille, a fortress-like prison. The event also marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

Similar to America’s Independence Day, Bastille Day is often celebrated with parades, costume balls, picnics, festivals, dances and fireworks. A military parade typically kicks off the event in Paris. Because Bastille Day is a national holiday, many businesses, government offices and banks are closed. But France is not the only country that observes Bastille Day – other places around the world also celebrate.