by Scott Christmas

Created on: June 24, 2008

Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille Prison in Paris in 1789. The prison stood as an ancient symbol of royal oppression; as such, it made for a perfect target for French citizens fed up with royal extravagance, secrecy, and despotism. An armed mob of about 600 people stormed the prison on July 14th of 1789 and wrested it from the control of the monarchy, sparking the French Revolution. The day has been celebrated officially as the French national holiday since the 1880's.

For anyone with French heritage who wants to teach their children about their cultural legacy, or for any parent who simply wants to give their kids an appreciation of international culture, Bastille Day celebrations are a great opportunity. Specifically, parents can use the celebration of Bastille Day to do fun activities with their children that will both engage and educate them.

1) Bastille Day art. Let your children see artists' renditions of the Bastille prison, and have them mimic the pictures, or draw their own visual representation of the structure. The Bastille was a 14th century stone monolith with eight towers set up in a rectangle and 80-foot walls in between. If your child is more of a builder, let him or her use Legos or clay to build a three-dimensional version of the famous fort. Whatever you choose, make sure to explain the significance of the prison and why its surrender was important in the history of France.

2) French food. Introduce your children to great French foods. Most children, of course, are not going to be interested in calamari or foie gras, but buy an assortment of good French cheeses and breads and let them get a taste for French dining. In lieu of wine or champagne, a nice bottle of Perrier would be appropriate.

3) The French national anthem. Teach your children the lyrics and melody to the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise." Most children love to sing and dance, and you can use this activity as a way to interact with your kids, give them something fun to do in celebration of Bastille Day, and teach them a little something along the way.

4) Reenactment of the storming of the Bastille. Get some washable paints and a few old cardboard boxes. Cut and shape the cardboard into a mock-up of the faade of the Bastille, and paint it with appropriate colors. The kids can play in and around the cardboard faade, and when it's all over, have them "storm the Bastille" by knocking everything down while crying out "Viva la France!" or "Liberty, equality, and fraternity!" Again, make sure to give them the appropriate history so that they can understand the significance of this event.

5) Make a French flag. Using old bed sheets, cut a rectangular section and let your kids paint it with the blue, white, and red bars of the French flag. If you want to get really fancy, use a dowel rod or broomstick as a flagpole, and fly the flag proudly at your backyard celebration. Banners and signs with "Viva la France" and "Liberty, equality, and fraternity" are also good ways of letting kids in on Bastille Day celebrations.

Bastille Day is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids something about world history, and to provide fun activities for them that will involve them in the learning process. When kids are engaged and involved in what they are learning, the lessons tend to stick. So get your kids involved in your celebration of Bastille Day, and start teaching them from a young age about the importance of being a citizen of the world.

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