This storybook was created by Emily Carlson

Bastille Day is a French national holiday. This national day commemorates the 1789 storming of the Bastille prison by an angry mob of Parisians. The Parisians were successful and this battle began the French Revolution. Bastille Day did not become a national holiday in France until 1880, almost a hundred years later (France: France Celebrates). This anniversary is celebrated with a military parade, fireworks, and special guests to the French President. The holiday is always taken place on July 14th.

The storming of the Bastille prison was often seen as the beginning of the French Revolution This battle was a win for the French Revolutionists because they wanted to overthrow the monarchy that was lead by King Louis XVI. King Louis was often hiding away at his Palace of Versailles and living lavish. However, the people of France were poor and hungry and he did not seem to care (For Bastille Day). He continued to hide away in the Versailles twin Palace, the Palace of Fontainebleau.

King Louis XVI visited the Palace Fontainebleau on the eve of the French Revolution. French citizens saw these palaces as places that symbolized wealth, selfishness, and monarchy. Once the French Revolution began, these two palaces representation failure to the French monarchy. The Palaces have been turned into tourist attractions where people are allowed to walk around them like museums. The Palace Fontainebleau is often referred to as a magnificent time capsule (France: France Celebrates). This is because it has not been damaged in any way. 

King Louis XVI was the last King of France. After the storming of the Bastille, the royal family was forced to live as prisoners. The royal family attempted to flee several times, but were always caught. Once the French Revolution finally came to an end and the monarchy was abolished, the royal family was executed. Louis and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were both guillotined. Louis XVIII, who was Louis XVI’s brother, built a chapelle expiatoire on his brothers burial (Hardman, 447).

Bastille Day is a huge holiday celebrated by France and several thousand citizens and tourists come to Paris to join the celebration. Security is taken very seriously. This allows for a smooth parade walk and for the military equipment to be kept in the right hands. Usually, there are 15,000 police officers and rescue workers deployed in Paris (France: France Celebrates). After the military parade is finished, in the evening there are a display of fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. 

Last years Bastille Day was celebrated with a big military parade of over 4,000 members of the armed forces, almost 200 vehicles, over 200 horses, and almost 100 planes and helicopters (France - Bastille Day). The special guests that were invited to the 2019 French Bastille Day was Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They watched the parade seated next to France’s President, Emmanuel Macron. France always broadcasts the parade live on television and it remains the oldest military parade.

Guests who are invited to the military parade often go back to their countries and want to do something similar. For example, the 2017 parade included the United States President Donald Trump. Donald Trump was so delighted by the parade he had a similar military parade on July 4th, which is the day the United States Independence Day (France - Bastille Day). The military parade took place in Washington D.C. and did not have nearly the same amount of military equipment as France did.

Traditionally, France’s giant military parade of soldiers and military equipment walk down the Champs-Elysées. However, this years parade had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus. The coronavirus is a deadly disease that is sweeping the entire world. The parade usually began at the Arc de Triomphe, which is a monument to honor those who fought to end the monarchy. The parade ends at Concorde, where King Louis XVI was guillotined (Bastille Day - France). Instead of the usual parade, there was a flypast in honor of the military, medical personnel, and other people who are on the front lines fighting the disease.