The national holiday, is precisely our topic of conversation this week in my French conversation group. You can practice your French up to 7 times a week with other motivated learners to gain confidence in speaking and express yourself more naturally in French.
 


 

We're going to look at a question that might seem obvious to some, but whose history is far from simple: Why do we celebrate the French national holiday on July 14?
 

July 14, for many of us, evokes images of incredible fireworks, military parades on the Champs-Élysées, and gatherings of family and friends. But why this exact date? To understand this, we have to go back to the end of the 18th century.
 

Everything starts in 1789, a time of great upheaval in France. King Louis XVI, faced with an unprecedented financial crisis and popular pressure for reform, convenes the Estates General, an assembly of representatives of the clergy, nobility, and third estate.
 

This is where the story gets a bit complicated. You see, a lot of people think that July 14 celebrates the taking of the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789. And that's true, but there's another event, less well known, but just as important, that is also celebrated on this day: the Fête de la Fédération, which took place a year later, on July 14, 1790.
 

The taking of the Bastille was a major event. The Bastille, a prison and symbol of royal absolutism, was stormed by the people of Paris. It was a violent event that marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
 

On the other hand, the Fête de la Fédération was an event of reconciliation and unity. It commemorated the first anniversary of the taking of the Bastille, and hundreds of thousands of people from all over France came to Paris to participate. It was a day of celebration, hope, and

On the other hand, the Fête de la Fédération was an event of reconciliation and unity. It commemorated the first anniversary of the taking of the Bastille, and hundreds of thousands of people from all over France came to Paris to participate. It was a day of celebration, hope, and joy.
 

So why July 14? Well, in 1880, almost a century after these events, the Third Republic was looking for a date for a national holiday. They chose July 14, not only to commemorate the storming of the Bastille, but also to remember the Fête de la Fédération, an event that embodied the ideal of brotherhood and national unity.
 

So, July 14 is much more than just a date on the calendar. It's a powerful symbol of the struggle for freedom and equality, and of national unity. It's a celebration of the revolutionary spirit that shaped modern France. And despite the turbulence of history, the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity, born of the Revolution, remain deeply rooted in French identity.
 

So, the next time you watch fireworks on July 14 or listen to the Marseillaise, remember what this day truly represents. It's not just a celebration, it's a reminder of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped a nation.
 

 

Vocabulary exercise: the national holiday