by Maria C Collins

Created on: June 25, 2008   Last Updated: March 22, 2010

Bastille Day is the commemoration the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on 14 July 1789. This event ignited the spark, which became the French Revolution and led to the overthrow of the French monarchy.

I have been in Northern France on Bastille Day and the celebrations there tend to be rather hectic and frenetic. People dress up in the costumes of the time of the revolution and generally have a very exciting and excitable time and the celebrations last all day and all night.

Here in the South West of France, at least in the very rural area where I live, the celebrations are a little more subdued. Probably because this is a hard-working farming community and farmers here are very busy at this time of year with the grain harvest and tending the fruit trees. This is after all the fruit basket of France.

Even before my husband and I came to France to live we always celebrated on July 14th because it is his birthday. Now that we live in France, we joke that all of France throws a party for his birthday.

Therefore, the best Bastille Day celebrations in France are ours. We have evolved some traditions since we came to France. In the morning, he opens his presents and cards. In the evening, we usually have a meal out in a local restaurant, then we go up to a medieval walled village (called here a bastide) on a hill not far away. The old buildings have been restored and the village is quite a tourist attraction. There by the beautiful medieval stone gates of the village there is a wonderful panoramic view over our nearest large town which lays on a huge plain. There is usually quite a crowd of people gathering up there as we arrive. Some come armed with chairs and there are usually some people picnicking on the grass. Children are running around and there is an air of excitement as darkness falls.

When it is quite dark and we can see the lights of the town. A magnificent firework display begins. The fireworks are set off from different sites in the town over the river, which runs through it. From our perch high above the town, we all have an excellent view of the fireworks, a great deal better than the view we would get in the town, which is extremely crowded. Everyone enjoys the fireworks and we are comfortable in the gentle breeze, because it is usually very hot here in July. When the fireworks have finished we go and sit outside one of the cafes in the village square in the cool of the evening and have a drink and a last toast to the liberte, egalite and fraternite of La Belle France and to a happy birthday for my husband.

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