Between military parades, sparkling fireworks and shared joy… National Day is in the spotlight! Rediscover the great traditions of July 14 and stock up on inspiration to celebrate this memorable event with your loved ones.
Every year, the magic of the fireworks July 14 brings together young and old, comfortably seated at home, in a green space or on the beach. As this public holiday falls on a Tuesday for this 2026 edition, let’s lift the veil on the exact origins of our national holiday and the best ways to mark the occasion.
What is the meaning of the national holiday?
National Day in France celebrates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. This historical fact symbolizes the fall of the absolute monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution.
What happened on July 14, 1789?
At the time, in 1789, France was going through a period of major crisis. The French people are demanding change and writing their complaints on grievance booksinstalled in town halls and transmitted to King Louis XVI. The tension in the streets increases little by little over the months. In the capital, in July 1789, royal troops deployed to protect Versailles and Paris. THE Parisians decide not to let it happen and to respond by issuing calls to arms.
THE July 14, 1789part of the population headed towards Les Invalides to take weapons, before going to the Bastille prison to obtain powder. The governor who is at the head of the royal prison, Bernard-René Jourdan de Launay, then urges his men to fire on the crowd. A bloody fight is launched. The fortress is stormed by the people: it is the famous storming of the Bastille.
Why do we shoot fireworks on July 14?
The tradition of fireworks on July 14 dates back to 1880, when the national holiday was officially established. That year, a large fireworks display was fired over the Seine in Paris to celebrate the event. The success was such that the show became a republican ritual. It symbolizes joy, national unity and the memory of the beginnings of the Republic after the French Revolution.
In general, July 14 is celebrated with family and friends around various activities : a good meal, followed by an outing outside to attend balls, illuminations and traditional fireworks. THE Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris is also very symbolic on the national holiday, it is broadcast live on television. If you have children, you can also keep them busy in other ways by offering them manual activities or colorings. Here are our crafts on the Hugo the Snail section for July 14:
What are the symbols of July 14?
Several symbols surround the national holiday:
- THE military parade on the Champs-Élysées which brings together different corps of the French Army
- THE fireworks launched after dark
- THE tricolor flag blue, white, red
- L’national anthem Marseille
- There national motto “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
There is also the rooster, or even Marianne, which are part of the emblems of the French Republic.
