{"id":244221,"date":"2025-01-23T07:56:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T12:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/?page_id=244221"},"modified":"2025-01-23T07:56:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T12:56:37","slug":"bastille-day-in-french-language","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/bastille-day-in-french-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Bastille Day in French: Language, History, Traditions and More | FluentU French Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAllons, enfants de la Patrie: le jour de gloire est arriv\u00e9!\u201d \u2014 \u201cLet\u2019s go, children of the fatherland: the day of glory has arrived!\u201d You\u2019ve probably heard these famous lyrics from \u201c<\/em>La Marseillaise<\/em><\/a>,\u201c<\/em> France\u2019s national anthem, which is sung for Bastille Day celebrations.<\/p>\n

The revolutionary spirit of the song is perfect for this national holiday, which was born out of one of history\u2019s most turbulent periods<\/a>: the French Revolution.<\/p>\n

In France, Bastille Day is officially called la f\u00eate nationale. If you want to join in on the Bastille Day celebrations, I\u2019ve put together a guide to understanding what the holiday is, how to celebrate it<\/a> and most importantly, how to talk about Bastille Day in French<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Names for Bastille Day in French<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll notice that there\u2019s no French translation listed below for \u201cBastille Day.\u201d That\u2019s because the French don\u2019t call it Bastille Day<\/strong>! English-speaking countries are the ones who adopted the term, so you shouldn\u2019t use it when speaking in French. Bastille Day is the French national day, commemorating the storming of the Bastille and celebrating the unity of the French people.<\/p>\n

Instead, you can say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Vocabulary<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
La f\u00eate nationale fran\u00e7aise<\/i> \u00a0<\/td>The French national holiday<\/td>You can also just shorten the phrase and refer to the holiday as la f\u00eate nationale<\/i> \u00a0(the national holiday) or even abbreviate the latter to f\u00eate nat<\/i> \u00a0if you're speaking informally with friends.
\n
\nNote that this holiday isn't usually capitalized in French.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le quatorze juillet<\/i> <\/td>July 14th<\/td>This is a great time to remind yourself that unlike in English, French months aren't capitalized.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La f\u00eate du quatorze juillet<\/i> <\/td>The July 14th holiday<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Bastille Day Greetings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
Vocabulary<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Bonne f\u00eate nationale!<\/i> <\/td>Happy national holiday!<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joyeux quatorze juillet!<\/i> <\/td>Happy July 14th!<\/td>Note that when talking about holidays or birthdays such as in these instances,\u00a0bonne<\/i>\u00a0(good) and\u00a0joyeux<\/i>\u00a0(joyous) both roughly translate to \"happy.\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Historical Bastille Day Vocabulary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Vocabulary <\/th>Meaning<\/th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
La r\u00e9volution<\/i> <\/td>The revolution<\/td>To refer to the French Revolution, simply say La R\u00e9volution Fran\u00e7aise.<\/i> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La guerre<\/i> <\/td>The war<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La victoire<\/i> <\/td>Victory<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le gouvernement<\/i> <\/td>The government<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La monarchie<\/i> <\/td>The monarchy<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le roi<\/i> <\/td>The king<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La reine<\/i> <\/td>The queen<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La prison<\/i> <\/td>The prison<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les rebelles<\/i> <\/td>The rebels<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
L'\u00e9meute <\/td>A riot<\/td>To talk about the action of rioting, you can say manifester violemment<\/i> \u00a0(to protest violently).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La r\u00e9bellion<\/i> <\/td>The rebellion<\/td>You can also use la s\u00e9dition<\/i>, \u00a0which means the same thing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
L'histoire<\/i> <\/td>History<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Vocabulary for Celebrating Like a Local<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Vocabulary<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Vive la France!<\/i> <\/td>Long live France!<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire pour c\u00e9l\u00e9brer le 14 juillet?<\/i> <\/td>What are you doing to celebrate July 14th?<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Un drapeau<\/i> <\/td>Flag<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
feux d'artifice<\/i> <\/td>Fireworks<\/td>It's worth noting that this phrase literally means \"artificial fires,\" which is just one of the many examples of why French is so beautiful!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le bouquet final<\/i> <\/td>The grand finale<\/td>The phrase literally translates to \"the final bouquet.\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Un concert<\/i> <\/td>A concert<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C\u00e9l\u00e9brer<\/i> <\/td>To celebrate<\/td>Both\u00a0f\u00eater<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0faire la f\u00eate<\/i>\u00a0(literally, \"to make a party\") also mean \"to celebrate.\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Une f\u00eate<\/i> <\/td>A party<\/td>Depending on the context,\u00a0f\u00eate<\/i>\u00a0can either mean \"a holiday\" or \"a party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Vocabulary for the Parade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Vocabulary<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
La parade<\/i>\u00a0 <\/td>The parade<\/td>You can also say le d\u00e9fil\u00e9<\/i>, \u00a0which means the same thing but is used more commonly when talking about a parade with soldiers.
\n
\nFor example, you can say le d\u00e9fil\u00e9 militaire<\/i> \u00a0(the military parade).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Regardons la parade aujourd'hui!<\/i> <\/td>Let's watch the parade today!<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D\u00e9filer<\/i> <\/td>To march<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les chars<\/i> <\/td>Parade floats<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La musique<\/i> <\/td>Music<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La foule<\/i> <\/td>The crowd<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Acclamer<\/i> <\/td>To cheer<\/td>Both applaudir<\/i>\u00a0 (to applaud) and encourager<\/i> \u00a0(to encourage) can usually be used interchangeably with\u00a0acclamer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
L'arm\u00e9e<\/i> <\/td>The military<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La police<\/i> <\/td>The police<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les pompiers<\/i> <\/td>Firemen<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le discours<\/i> <\/td>A speech<\/td>You can also use l'allocution<\/i>, \u00a0which essentially means the same thing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le pr\u00e9sident<\/i> <\/td>The president<\/td>Usually, the French President gives a speech during the July 14th celebrations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les ballons<\/i> <\/td>Balloons<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les confettis<\/i> <\/td>Confetti<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Vocabulary for the Holiday Picnic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Vocabulary<\/th>Meaning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Un pique-nique<\/i> <\/td>A picnic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On va faire un pique-nique pour c\u00e9l\u00e9brer la f\u00eate nationale. Est-ce que tu voudrais nous accompanger?<\/i> \u00a0<\/td>We're having a picnic to celebrate the national holiday. Do you want to come with us?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les amis<\/i> <\/td>Friends<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La famille<\/i> <\/td>Family<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La nourriture<\/i> <\/td>Food<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Le repas<\/i> <\/td>Meal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La boisson<\/i> <\/td>Drink<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Un panier<\/i> <\/td>A basket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Une couverture<\/i> <\/td>A blanket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dehors<\/i> <\/td>Outside<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manger<\/i> <\/td>To eat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boire<\/i> <\/td>To drink<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Learn French with Bastille Day Activities<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bastille Day is a great way to have some fun while brushing up on your French<\/a><\/p>\n

For starters, you can practice your reading skills<\/a> by checking out some French-language articles about the history of Bastille Day in French, like this short article<\/a><\/p>\n

If you’re an upper-level French learner, try this more extensive historical article on L’Internaute<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

For audio-visual learners, here’s a very informative French video about Bastille Day by Pratiks:<\/a><\/p>\n

If you really want to embrace Bastille Day, you could learn the French national anthem by listening to the song<\/a> and memorizing the lyrics,\u00a0which might surprise you<\/a>\u2014they’re quite\u00a0graphic!<\/p>\n

You could even\u00a0go all-out by throwing a Bastille Day party<\/strong> with your friends! You can cook French food, fly the French flag and speak in French during the celebration.<\/p>\n

What Is Bastille Day and Why Is It Important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bastille Day honors the F\u00eate de la Federation<\/em> (Festival of the Federation)<\/a>, which occurred on July 14, 1790, exactly one year after the Bastille prison in Paris was stormed by unhappy citizens.<\/p>\n

The storming of the Bastille was one of the major events that began open rebellion in France in the summer of 1789, and it triggered the French Revolution.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the Bastille only held seven prisoners<\/a> on the day it was stormed. and the act was a symbol of ending the power of the monarchy\u2014since the prison was often used to hold those who opposed the royals. Perhaps even more importantly, the rebels needed to seize the large amount of gunpowder and cannons housed inside.<\/p>\n

In the end, the leaders of the rebellion decided to demolish the prison to show that the monarchy’s\u00a0hold over France was finished. Pieces of the Bastille were eventually sold as souvenirs,\u00a0and the Marquis de Lafayette actually gave the prison’s key to George Washington as a gift<\/a>. You can even see it on display today at Mount Vernon in New York State.<\/p>\n

This important historical day was commemorated a year later with the F\u00eate de la Federation<\/em>although with an effort to focus on unity as opposed to the bloodshed of the rebellion<\/a>. A century later, July 14th became the French national holiday that’s celebrated today as Bastille Day.<\/p>\n

If you’re interested in learning more about the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution, Jacobin Magazine<\/em><\/a>Origins<\/em><\/a> both have very detailed articles on the subject.<\/p>\n

History of the French Revolution<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The French Revolution, also known as the Great French Revolution, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 to 1799. It all began on July 14, 1789, with the Storming of the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris that symbolized the tyranny of the French monarchy. This pivotal event marked the start of the French Revolution, driven by a combination of financial crisis, food shortages, and the influence of Enlightenment ideas advocating liberty, equality, and fraternity.<\/p>\n

The revolution unfolded in several phases, each with its own significant developments. The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate, adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, enshrining the principles of the revolution. However, the period known as the Reign of Terror (1793-1794) saw a wave of violence and repression, with thousands executed for perceived counter-revolutionary activities.<\/p>\n

The French Revolution profoundly impacted not only France but also the world, shaping modern politics, society, and culture. It led to the establishment of the First French Republic, the abolition of feudalism, and the rise of modern democracy. The revolution\u2019s legacy endures in the French national motto, \u201cLibert\u00e9, \u00c9galit\u00e9, Fraternit\u00e9,\u201d celebrated every year on Bastille Day.<\/p>\n

Fireworks and Festivities<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bastille Day is celebrated with great fanfare and festivities across France. The day kicks off with the grand Bastille Day Military Parade on the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es in Paris. This spectacular event features troops, military bands, and a dazzling display of aircraft, all presided over by the French President. It\u2019s a sight to behold and a proud moment for the French people.<\/p>\n

As evening falls, the sky over Paris and other cities lights up with breathtaking fireworks displays. The most iconic of these is the show at the Eiffel Tower, where fireworks illuminate the night sky, creating a magical atmosphere. Public squares and streets come alive with locals and tourists enjoying concerts, parties, and communal meals. One beloved tradition is the Firemen\u2019s Ball, hosted by fire stations across the city, where people dance the night away.<\/p>\n

Bastille Day is also a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate French culture and heritage. Many attend outdoor concerts and festivals, while others savor traditional French food and wine. The day is a celebration of French patriotism and values, making it an integral part of French national identity.<\/p>\n

How French People Celebrate Bastille Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

People in France have found many ways to celebrate this\u00a0commemorative day. For starters, Bastille Day is a French national holiday<\/strong>, so most people have the day off work, shops and businesses are closed and there’s generally a relaxed, holiday feel to the day.<\/p>\n

Many people attend parades, the biggest being the famous annual military parade in Paris<\/a><\/p>\n

Others spend the day with family, having picnics, going to restaurants\u00a0and hosting parties.<\/p>\n

There are also often special discounts or free access to certain national museums, events and other historical sites on Bastille Day.<\/p>\n

Finally, and perhaps most popular of all, is to go out at night, attend concerts and watch fireworks. The biggest celebration is a classical concert by the Eiffel Tower<\/a> leading up to fantastic fireworks show above the iconic monument:<\/p>\n

\"FluentU<\/a><\/div>\n

With all the excitement from reading about Bastille Day, you may have decided you want to learn the language. If so, consider checking out . This innovative language learning program uses authentic videos with embedded subtitles to help people learn French while watching entertaining videos, such as music videos, movie trailers and news clips\u2014in other words, you learn while watching videos that you’re probably already watching anyway!<\/p>\n

Now that you’re all set to celebrate one of the biggest French holidays, I wish you a joyeux 14 juillet<\/em>\u00a0(happy July 14th)!<\/p>\n

Download: <\/em><\/strong>This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. <\/em>Click here to get a copy. (Download)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Camille is a writer, editor, and English teacher who has lived and worked all over the world in places like Italy, France, and Colombia. She continues to travel while managing a writing company and restaurant and is currently working on learning her fourth language.<\/p>\n

Bastille Day Around the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bastille Day isn\u2019t just celebrated in France; it\u2019s a global affair. Many countries with French-speaking populations or historical ties to France join in the festivities with their own unique traditions.<\/p>\n

In the United States, cities with French heritage, such as New Orleans and San Francisco, host vibrant Bastille Day celebrations. These events often feature French food, wine, music, and cultural performances, bringing a touch of France to American soil.<\/p>\n

In Canada, Quebec City hosts a grand Bastille Day celebration, complete with a military parade, fireworks, and a festival of French music and dance. Other cities like Montreal and Ottawa also join in with smaller but equally spirited celebrations.<\/p>\n

Down under in Australia, Sydney\u2019s Bastille Day celebration includes a French market, food and wine stalls, and a concert of French music. Melbourne and Brisbane also host their own festivities, showcasing the global appreciation for French culture.<\/p>\n

Bastille Day is a celebration of French culture and heritage that transcends borders. Whether you\u2019re in France or elsewhere, it\u2019s a day to come together and celebrate the values of libert\u00e9, \u00e9galit\u00e9, fraternit\u00e9.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cAllons, enfants de la Patrie: le jour de gloire est arriv\u00e9!\u201d \u2014 \u201cLet\u2019s go, children of the fatherland: the day of glory has arrived!\u201d You\u2019ve probably heard these famous lyrics…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":760,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Bastille Day in French: Language, History, Traditions and More | FluentU French Blog - FluentU","description":"\u201cAllons, enfants de la Patrie: le jour de gloire est arriv\u00e9!\u201d \u2014 \u201cLet\u2019s go, children of the fatherland: the day of glory has arrived!\u201d You\u2019ve probably heard thes"},"footnotes":""},"coauthors":[207],"class_list":["post-244221","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/244221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/760"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244221"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/244221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":248073,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/244221\/revisions\/248073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=244221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}