French National Day, also known as Bastille Day, is celebrated on July 14 every year. It honors the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a major event of the French Revolution.
Bastille Day also commemorates the Fête de la Fédération, held on July 14, 1790. The Fête de la Fédération was a festival of solidarity held one year after the storming of the Bastille. It was attended by more than 100,000 people and featured speeches, military parades, and fireworks displays.
French National Day has a tragic history. In 1789, tensions between reformers and conservatives reached an all-time high, and the country was in the midst of an economic crisis. People were angry about food shortages and high taxes, which were used to pay for King Louis XVI’s huge debts.
The militarization of Paris only added to the sense of threat, and on 14 July a mob marched to the Hôtel des Invalides, where they looted some 3,000 guns and five cannons. However, these weapons required gunpowder, which was stored in the Bastille.
The crowd went to the prison and negotiated with the governor, but when their demands were not met, they stormed the outer courtyard and a battle broke out. When it was all over, the people of Paris freed the prisoners held in the Bastille and arrested the governor.
The storming of the Bastille was a symbolic act of the popular uprising against the monarchy and it marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Although the revolution would eventually lead to the establishment of a republic, it also led to widespread violence and bloodshed.
Why is French National Day called Bastille Day?
The name “Bastille Day” was actually a misnomer. The French don’t actually call it Bastille Day in French. The name is Fête du 14 juillet, which simply means “Feast of the 14th of July” according to the Library of Congress.
The name “Bastille Day” was popularized in English-speaking countries after the American Revolution, when the storming of the Bastille was considered a symbol of freedom and democracy.
The French don’t like calling it Bastille Day. According to the Library of Congress “During the parliamentary debates that preceded the adoption of the Law of July 6, 1880, lawmakers explicitly stated that July 14 commemorated the Fête de la Fédération of 1790 in the same way as the hurricane Bastille in 1789.
“Indeed, it appears that while many wished to celebrate the taking of the Bastille, some lawmakers felt uncomfortable celebrating such a violent event. Therefore, combining that revolutionary event with the celebration of 1790 was a way to make that date a more palatable option for some of the more conservative political factions of the time,” it added.
What role will Prime Minister Modi play as guest of honor?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the guest of honor at the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on July 14, 2023. This is a significant event as it marks the first time that an Indian prime minister has been invited to attend the Bastille Day celebration. Bastille as a guest of honor.
The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of India’s oldest strategic partnership, marked by “comprehensive convergence” since the two countries pledged in 1998.
India and France are celebrating 25 years of a strategic partnership built on trust and friendship, a relationship that has grown stronger with time.
Dear @NarendraModiWelcome to paris. pic.twitter.com/s03htftpTw
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron)
July 13, 2023
Prime Minister Modi in an interview with Les Echos mentioned “We are at a turning point and we look forward to building a roadmap for the next 25 years of cooperation”.
The Prime Minister’s visit to France also marked the business relationship between the two countries. On Thursday, India’s Defense Acquisition Council approved the purchase of 26 Rafales for the Indian Navy, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris. This agreement was announced in principle by the Indian Ministry of Defense.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France on Bastille Day also served another purpose. He is expected to deliver a speech highlighting the strong ties between India and France. He could also use the opportunity to discuss common concerns, such as the rise of China and the need to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region. .
In short, Bastille Day is a day to remember the struggle for freedom and democracy, and this year it also became a day to celebrate the friendship between India and France.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: pagasa.edu.vn