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The fourth of July was not very long ago. And do you remember why we celebrate it? All of the parades and fireworks we see on the fourth of July are a symbol of our freedom. It represents the United States independence from England. It’s one of our most popular holidays. But isn’t is strange to think that other countries don’t celebrate this very festive occasion?

Just like we have the fourth, however, France has the fourteenth. On July 14th every year, the French celebrate their independence day called Bastille Day. This day is an important national holiday to them because it marks the day when the French celebrate the start of the Revolution and the birth of their nation.

This Revolution occurred on July 14, 1789, but let’s back up a few months. On May 5, 1789, the King of France brought a group of people together very similar to our Congress. This group was called the Estates General and they gathered to tell King Louis XVI about the condition of the country. They complained to him of the hunger, bad harvests and political unrest. At this time, the Third Estate, which represented the citizens of the town, broke away and formed their own assembly. They did not like how the king was handling things, nor did the people of Paris. Due to this unrest, a protest occurred on July 14th, and the people decided to march on the Bastille which was a state prison. The storming of the Bastille proved that power was no longer in the hands of the King, but instead in the hands of the people. The storming of the Bastille also marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

For the citizens of France, July 14, 1789, has come to symbolize liberty, democracy, and the struggle against all forms of oppression. It marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Republic. Today it is celebrated much like we celebrate the fourth of July. They hold parades, host fireworks and have parties. This is the day that people can say, Happy Birthday France!