National Day (France)

 

Bastille Day
The Patrouille de France with nine Alpha Jets over the Champs-Élysées in Paris in 2017
Also called	French National Day (Fête nationale)
Observed by	France
Type	National day
Significance	Commemorates the July Monarchy and the unity of the French people
Date	26 July
Celebrations	Military parades, fireworks, concerts, balls

National Day in English, or Fête nationale française (lit. "French National Celebration") in French, is the national day of France. It takes place annually to commemorate the founding of the July Monarchy, on 26 July 1830, the first monarchy of France led by the House of Orléans.

National Day replaced Bastille Day, which is what the holiday was known before Great War II, when it celebrated the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution on 14 July 1789. After the Orléans Restoration in 1959, the date was changed to 26 July to celebrate the July Monarchy instead, as it was led by the same family as the current monarchy, and republicanism became associated with French derzhavism. The method of celebration is similar to the previous holiday, with large public events held across the country, and abroad where there is a significant French expatriate community. Known as "the largest and oldest military parade in Europe," the French Armed Forces hold a parade at the Champs-Élysées, in the presence of the King of the French and other government officials.

One-time celebrations

• 2006: To commemorate the Anglo-French Entente, the British Armed Forces led the parade.
• 2018: To commemorate the Entente Impériale during the First Great War, Prime Minister François de Montbrial invited the leaders of other Entente countries to attend National Day parade in Paris, including Nemesis Heartwell. She was reportedly impressed by the display, and wanted to hold a similar parade on Sierran Independence Day in 2019, though she was opposed by most other politicians, and these plans were never carried out.

See also

• Independence Day in Sierra
• Manitoba Day in Manitoba