Bastille Day, also known as La Fête Nationale in France, is celebrated every year on July 14. This public holiday commemorates a key event in the French Revolution: the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789.
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris that was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was seen as a symbol of the monarchy's absolute and arbitrary power. Its storming represented the uprising of the proletariat against the monarchy – a key moment in the Revolution that led to the end of the absolute monarchy and the birth of the modern French Republic.
Today, Bastille Day is celebrated with various public and private events. In Paris, there's a large military parade on the Champs-Élysées, which is the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe. Fireworks, communal meals, dances, and parties also commonly take place.
In addition to its significance in France, Bastille Day is recognized and celebrated in various forms around the world, often in communities with large French-speaking populations or French heritage.