Saturday 11 July 2009

French National Holiday



Félicitations à la France! Congratulations to France! I am early, because I will be very busy in the next few days. But better early than late.

La fête nationale française est la fête nationale de la France, qui a lieu chaque 14 juillet depuis 1880. Elle commémore la fête de la Fédération, qui fêtait elle-même le premier anniversaire de la prise de la Bastille, et marquait la fin de la monarchie absolue. C'est un jour férié, chômé et payé

Date: 14 July

Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th's Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.

Although the Bastille only held seven prisoners at the time of its capture, the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens; like the Tricolore flag, it symbolized the Republic's three ideals: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity for all French citizens. It marked the end of absolute monarchy, the birth of the sovereign Nation, and, eventually, the creation of the (First) Republic, in 1792.



I see you next week, hopefully. Have a great weekend and beautiful weather!

22 comments:

Dina said...

Viva la France!
Good luck in your busy days, Wil.
Shalom to you.

Jeannette StG said...

Have a great time, and we'll see you back in a week, Jeannette

Marja said...

Yes viva la France for vrijheid gelijkheid rn broederschap Have a good time Wil

Carol Murdock said...

Have a wonderful time Wil and I know you will have great pics for us when you get back!
xoxo

Arkansas Patti said...

The French and Americans have alway shared a love of liberty. They helped us win our independance.
Viva la France.

Renie Burghardt said...

Happy Bastille Day to our French friends!

Have a great time, Wil. See you when you get back.

Hugs,

Renie

penny said...

You never forget to celebrate the holidays other countries of the world. I think it is wonderful that you remind as all to look beyond our own little world and see the bigger picture of the world...
Thanks, your a terrific teacher Wil!

Brenda said...

I agree with Pam. You are a great teacher Wil. Viva la France! Have a great weekend!

Patty said...

Have a nice time away from the computer. We're having a rainy day, which is nice, we needed the rain badly. So we're enjoying it. Good day to play games, watch TV or read.

See you when you get back on line.

Wisdom Of Heart said...

have a lovely time

Anonymous said...

Have a heart for a Frenchman. I don't know where or why that came to mind but it did. Maybe something from my time in the Army and their defeat in Vietnam. The French. We came later.

I salute them their independence and you your post about that. Nice. Say hi to your family for me and Patty.

Miss_Yves said...

Merci de cet hommage !
Puissions-nous tous respecter et appliquer l'idéal républicain: liberté, égalité, fraternité .

Etje said...

Maak ondanks al de drukte de kommende dagen toch wat tijd vrij om te genieten.

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» will be celebrating Bastille Day at his French-theme espresso shop, Café-Saint-Honoré.

Michele said...

I remember learning all about this in school... it just seems like yesterday (How I so wish!!)

Have a terrific time, my friend!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Happy holiday!

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Are you running off on holiday without me again?

Rajesh said...

Nice insight into the history.

Wolynski said...

Happy birthday, France! That dog on your header is adorable. I LOVE Yves Montand movies - thought he was the handsomest man who ever lived.

anthonynorth said...

It was a good day eventually - and, I think, an important warning. The revolution showed that direct democracy could be no better than a mob. When it was got right and representative democracy became the norm, a new freedom could then reign.

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» was happy to see that you had stopped by and saw the photos of the Bastille Day party at his café.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I am all for standing up for your rights just like the French did.