I thought you all might enjoy a little taste of Bastille Day! Here's a video of the fireworks from the roof of my friend's apartment, Eiffel Tower on the left, Hotel des Invalides on the right (where Napoleon tomb is). Oh, and don't mind our commentary...
Just as we call our Independence Day the 4th of July, Bastille Day is referred to in France as "le 14 juillet" or the 14th of July. Their version is a commemoration of the storming of the Bastille (a old prison on what used to be the outskirts of Paris) on July 14th, 1789, the event which jumpstarted the French Revolution and turned France from a monarchty into a republic (well, for the first time anyway...). A bankrupt monarchy, disgruntled bourgeoisie, increasing food prices and bread shortages, plus, let's not forgot the heat (and several other more complicated details that I'm sure I would bore you with), led a mob of Parisians to flood the streets on July 14 and storm the Bastille in search of arms and amunition, and ended up freeing the prisoners. Though there were only 7 at the time, the event's importance stemmed more from what the Bastille symbolized (the monarchy and its abuses of power) than from the "liberation" of these prisoners.
Thus began the French Revolution, which lasted for another 10 years, changing constitutions and governments like a girl changes clothes, until Napoleon came to power and the day lives on in infamy, commemorated with a military parade on the Champs-Elysee and fireworks on the Champs de Mars (at the Eiffel Tower)!
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