how Bastille day is different than the 4th of July, by MW
This article was written for yooou! by 16 year old, MW. She is in currently in France with the French half of her family.
When I think of July, or summer in general, my mind immediately goes to the 4th of July. Filled with fireworks, hotdogs, concerts, and family gatherings, the 4th of July is a time for us to express our patriotism, reflect on our country’s history, and enjoy the summer season. In our country, the 4th of July is an entire family event, bringing together cousins and grandparents to ooh and awe as the fireworks explode in the sky.
But how does our Independence Day compare to Bastille Day in France?
Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14th, is France’s national day. It is celebrated to commemorate the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 and to remember the historical significance and impact of the French Revolution.
Bastille Day is a much more nationally celebrated holiday compared to our 4th of July celebration, which is much more family-oriented.
Every Bastille Day there is a huge military parade that travels from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where France’s last king and queen were beheaded. This parade features 4,000 people and 162 horses marching in the tightly choreographed show as the President, members of the Government, and foreign ambassadors stand and watch the show. The French Army Chorus sings the national anthem, La Marseillaise, as 39 planes from the French Air Force and French Navy perform a flyover across the city.
This year, the parade also featured the arrival of the Olympic torch, since the 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris this year. The torch was escorted by riders on horseback, 25 torchbearers, and cadets dressed in the five Olympic colors forming the shapes of the five interlocking Olympic rings.
The parade lasts about an hour and is known as one of the world’s largest and oldest annual military parades, starting around 1880.
Most people celebrate Bastille Day by watching the parade on TV and maybe going to see fireworks. But, since the fireworks usually aren’t until midnight, it can be hard for families with younger kids to stay up that late to view them. This is a huge difference compared to the United States where whole families will gather to celebrate all day, sporting blue and red face paint while waiting for the fireworks show that are usually much earlier.
So, instead of family gatherings and patriotic songs, Bastille Day is represented by the coming together of thousands of military troops and officers to commemorate the French Revolution. While it is certainly a different approach to that of the United States, Bastille Day is celebrated with just as much enthusiasm and love.
image credit: Wikipedia
