I am French and my Independence Day is Bastille Day. Every July 14th, when we lived in our little village in the South of France, my brother and I met our classmates in front of the Mairie (City Hall). We followed War Veterans all the way down to the cemetery at the other side of the village to pay our respects to the Fallen Veterans. All the way, the Cobla (music team) was playing music; the kids were waving paper French flags to the cars passing us by. Once arrived at the cemetery, the mayor (who was also the 5th grade teacher at the local school) pronounced a speech commemorating the Fallen. We stayed silent for a minute in front of the Fallen Soldiers Memorial, then, the cobla played our national anthem, the Marseillaise, and we headed back to the City Hall where we would get lollipops after another Mayor speech and another Marseillaise. And then off to the main village square for local folks dance (Sardane). Even though I now live in the US, I spend every July 14 at my village and my two children are part of the Parade on Bastille Day. Since then, the city Hall has changed location but the Mayor is still the same (believe it or not!), the ritual is still the same, only my children are holding hands with cousins and friends (and not classmates). They still get the paper flags and lollipops!
Every French city and village will celebrate Bastille Day. If you are vacationing in France, the local office of tourism will give you all the information about the parades, bals (dances), and fireworks. If you are in Paris, I will publish a full post on the events happening in the city on Monday July 13th.
If you are in the Bay Area, there are some kid friendly events happening this week-end and on July 14th. I have also included a link for parents only events. Check them out after the fun facts.
Revolutionary facts to share with your kids about Bastille Day
- There were only 7 prisoners at the Bastille when it was stormed by the people of Paris on July 14th, 1789. The Bastille was a prison. Nowadays, there is nothing left of it on the ground, but if you take the Metro Bastille (Line 5), on the platform, you can see the remains of the walls.
- July 14th, 1789 marked the beginning of the end of the French Royalty: King Louis VXI and Queen Marie-Antoinette were then beheaded in 1793.
- The King of France, Louis XVI was so clueless about the situation in Paris that the only thing he wrote on his diary on July 14th, 1789 was ‘nothing’ (result of a hunting game). Because of the lack of efficient communication at that time, he learned about the Bastille event only the day after. When he asked: is it a revolt? La Rochefoucauld told me: no, it is a Revolution!
- France Motto is Liberte Egalite Fraternite (Freedom, Equality, Fraternity), these three words were first put together during the Revolution.
- The "tricolour" (three-colour) flag is an emblem of the Fifth Republic. It had its origins in the union, at the time of the French Revolution, of the colours of the King (white) and the City of Paris (blue and red).
- The French National Anthem called la Marseillaise is a revolutionary song.
Kid Friendly Bastille Day Celebrations in the Bay Area
Bastille Week-end at Santana Row, San Jose
July 11, 2009 - July 14, 2009
11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Phone: (408) 551-4611
Click here for the detailed schedule of events
French Picnic at the Golden Gate Park
Sunday July 12th
Spreckles Temple of Music (located between the deYoung and the Academy of Sciences)
Bring votre T shirt raye and votre baguette for some live music and petanque. Listen to the Marseillaise played by the Golden Gate Quartet.
Petanque at 11 am. Concert 1:00-3:00 pm.
Celebrate Bastille Day on Belden in San Francisco!
July 14th - 4 to 10pm
DJs, drinks, open restaurants, all the ingredients to have fun!
Restaurants: Sam's grill - Cafe Bastille - Cafe Tiramisu - Plouf - B44 - Belden Taverna - Trademark – Brindisi
Napastille Day
July 14th - 10am to 9pm
Oxbow Public Market
610 and 644 1st Street, Napa
707.226.6529
Live music, dancing, games, and of course french food specials.
Click here for the complete schedule.
French Potluck at the Alliance Francaise
1345 Bush Street, San Francisco
July 14th - 8:00 pm
Bring a dish or beverage and join the alliance Francaise community to celebrate Bastille Day.
If you want to make it a parents only celebration, check out the San Francisco French Chamber of Commerce Website for the full list of celebrations.
If you are not in the Bay Area, check Bastille Day events in these US cities:
Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, New York, Philadephia, Washington DC, New Orleans, Chicago, Milwaukee.
Happy Bastille Day!
