What is Bastille Day?
First of all, if you are looking for some fireworks to celebrate Bastille Day but are now living and or working in the UK we can supply you with fireworks nationwide (mainland UK). Check out our single ignition fireworks and large rockets.
July 14, 1789 was a turning point in the French Revolution, during the afternoon of this date, was The Storming of the Bastille. The Bastille had been a fortress during the 1300’s, and was being used as a political prison housing seven prisoners at the time of the attack. The Bastille represented an abuse of the people by the French rulers known as the Bourbon monarchy. King Louis XVI was in power and French citizens were living in extreme poverty with the threat of more taxes on the horizon. Three hundred activists stormed the Bastille, hoping to change France for the better.
July 14, 1790 was the celebration, Fete de la Federation, which acclaimed unity. This was in observance of France having a constitutional monarchy.
In France, July 14 is a national holiday celebrated as Le quatorze juillet. The day is recognised with fireworks, parades, parties and a lot of French food. The English, referred to it as the “Bastille Day”.
Bastille Day in the UK
London’s food destination – Borough Market, celebrates Bastille Day by hosting a Bastille Day festival, there are around 300,000 French people living in the UK. The French often enjoy crepes for breakfast served with fresh fruits or jam. Lunch may consist of steak tartare, which is a typical meal of fresh beef that has been minced with capers and shallots added for flavour. This meat dish is served with green leafy vegetables and crusty bread. Or, lunch may be served as a Quiche Lorraine, which consists of a delicious pastry, tasty custard, and bacon cooked to a perfect crisp. Dinner is usually a three-course meal enjoyed by friends and family. An example of a French dinner could start with something light like a soupe A Poignon. (French onion soup.) The second course could be coq au vin, which is chicken cooked in red wine with smoked bacon cubes, mushrooms, carrots, and onions. This chicken dish is served with mashed potatoes. Then, of course, comes desert. One of France’s well-known deserts is crème brulee, which is their signature custard.
London boasts many French restaurants, which will all be putting their best feet forward for this special day. It will be a great day of celebration for French people living in the area, as well as those who are connoisseurs of fine French food
Bastille Day Around the World
Bastille day celebrations on July 14 are not limited to France and the UK. There are festivities around the world remembering the significance of the day.
- Australia has a significant population of French community groups. These groups plan events for Bastille Day and other occasions throughout the year.
- In New York, there is an open-air picnic on three blocks of 60th Street. Among the checkered tablecloths and French food, the French-American community celebrates Bastille Day.
- In the breath-taking gardens of Los Angeles’ Page Museum, Bastille Day is celebrated. The participants are treated to fine French pastries and live entertainment. One such entertainment is a Provencal petanque tournament. This is a game where the participants toss hollow steel balls to determine who can get closest to a small wooden ball. The players stand inside a circle with both feet on the ground and the game is played on hard ground or gravel. Another form of live entertainment is Parisian waiters’ race.
- In Philadelphia PA, the participants meet outside the Eastern State Penitentiary where thousands of cakes are tossed from the walls as a re-enactment of the Storming of the Bastille. The cakes are reminiscent of Marie Antoinette’s quote, “…let them eat cake.”
- India’s southeastern coast has a Bastille Day celebration with French pageantry parading retired soldiers in their finest war garments singing the anthems of both France and India. Local houses fly French flags.
- In Tahiti, there is a festival that comes to an end on Bastille Day. The festivities include native canoe races, tattooing, and fire walking.
Bastille Day has become a worldwide celebration, make it a day to remember with a spectacular fireworks display.
Whether you are looking for quiet fireworks for a small garden display or noisy fireworks for a large firework display. Our knowledgeable staff, are always on-hand to advise you of the best fireworks for your budget.
Today, we are one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fireworks, whilst continuing to be family-owned. We have an in-store showroom, which is open all-year round, and we deliver nationwide.
