I’m a history buff, (and I trace some of my ancestry from France), which makes me very aware of this day. For those of you who aren’t familiar with “Bastille Day,” here is some general information:
“Bastille Day,” (or La Fête Nationale as it’s known in France), History:”
- Bastille Day marks the anniversary of July 14, 1789 when a group of Parisian revolutionaries attacked the Bastille, a French prison. The revolutionaries attacked the Bastille; searching for gun powder to go with the cannons and muskets they had recently stolen from the cellars of the Les Invalides. (Les Invalides was a home and hospital for aged and/or unwell soldiers). This event marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The anniversary of this attack became the French national holiday and is observed on July 14th each year.
Other facts about “Bastille Day:”
- The French Revolution was brought about, in part, because of the unequal class system found in France during the late 1700’s. The Catholic clergy held the highest position, next came Louis XVI and his court, and lastly were the general population. Without the benefit of being born into a higher class, the general population had almost no hope of ever bettering their station in life.
- Louis XVI’s spending at Versailles and his financial support of the American Revolutionary War against the British, placed France in a severe economic crisis. The general population was starving while King Louix XVI was building a great navy and continuing his lavish lifestyle in Versailles.
- King Louis XVI was eventually beheaded, (by use of a guillotine), on July 21, 1793 in front of a crowd of Parisians.
- And … the French flag consists of blue, white and red. White was the color of the Monarchy, the red and blue represented Paris. During the Revolution, the white was surrounded by blue and then red.
