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Bastille Day Celebrations and Party Ideas |
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The Bastille Day is one of the most important national events in France. It is observed every year on July 14 which marks the anniversary of the day when the people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison. It is observed as the day when the first instance of democracy could be seen in France. The Bastille Day is celebrated with patriotic parades, fireworks, parties, and much more!
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Bastille Day Celebrations
The Bastille Day traditions will make your day special and exciting! Here’s an idea about the traditions you can explore in and outside France.
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Traditional Bastille Day Celebrations in France
There are a number of events held in various areas of France on the Bastille Day. In 2012, you will find similar celebrations planned for this occasion.
Bastille Day parade: The French military parade starts near the Arc de Triomphe and goes up to the Place de la Concorde. It is led by the President of France. Various units of the French army and military cadets from army schools participate in this parade. The French Navy and the French Foreign Legion are also a part of this parade. The French jets fly high up in the sky whereas the fire brigade follows the procession started by the military. The parade starts at around 10a.m.
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Once the military parade is over, there’s a garden party hosted by the President. Of course, only those who’re invited can attend the party. Aside from this party, there’s a picnic organized by 20 departments in France. To add to the celebrations, there are fireworks at the Trocadéro. You can best view the fireworks display from the Champs de Mars or the Centre Georges Pompidou.
Bal du 14 Juillet: This is a dance party traditionally held on the Place de la Bastille where the prison was actually located. The Bal du 14 Juillet is usually organized on the evening of July 13. It has a different theme every year, and the best thing is that you can come in colorful costumes and hear live music as well.
Bastille Day fireworks in Paris: There are spectacular fireworks shows organized as part of the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris. The fireworks are often set off close to the Eiffel Tower area and the Saint Germain des Près District.
Firemen' Galas: Among all traditional Bastille Day activities and celebrations, the Firemen’ Galas deserve special mention. Well, the firehouses in France follow a unique tradition in which they open doors to the public on July 13 and July 14 and give dance performances and live demonstrations. The dance show starts at 9p.m. and continues up to 4.m. The firemen are actually asked to wear their uniforms even though they participate in these celebrations.
Aside from the parades and fireworks, the French Bastille Day celebrations comprise communal meals, parties, and special events planned by the nightclubs and restaurants.
Traditional Bastille Day Celebrations outside France
Other than France, various other countries celebrate the Bastille Day with exciting events. Get an idea about the Bastille Day traditions followed by the countries listed below.
Baltimore: The Baltimore City organizes events at Petit Louis (in the Roland Park area) for celebrating Bastille Day.
New York: New York City organizes a street fair on the 60th Street every year on July 14. It’s free and open to the public. When you attend such a fair, you’ll enjoy the music, dance, games, and exciting food as well. You can even shop around for special crafts and gifts. There are also kid’s contests including crafts, painting, and fun games.
London: The Bastille Day festival is celebrated across different areas in London, but the events at the Battersea Park deserve special mention. There’s a French petanque tournament that can be enjoyed for free. This event brings together champions from around the world. In addition, there are music shows where French DJs participate. Besides, there’s the cabaret dance which is quite enjoyable. People wear colorful costumes and indulge in flamboyant dancing. There are a host of Bastille Day activities organized for kids, such as releasing blue, white, and red balloons or trying out easy French recipes. The red, white, and blue colors stand for the ones you’ll find in the French national flag.
Ideas on How You May Celebrate the Bastille Day
If you’re a resident of France, you may attend the traditional celebrations that are held there on the Bastille Day. Just in case you don’t reside in France, you may celebrate this occasion by visiting the Embassy of France in your state. This is where you can explore French cultural shows. You’ll get the tickets from the embassy’s website. Aside from the cultural shows, you can enjoy a French buffet dinner and taste French wine as well.
A unique way to celebrate the Bastille Day is to write down the French national anthem on a piece of paper and laminate it. You can just fix the laminated frame against the wall of your living room for your guests to check it out. Another interesting idea is to raise the French national flag. Let your children take interest in creating such a flag. You may also send your greetings and best wishes to your loved ones on the Bastille Day.
Hosting a party is an exciting way to celebrate this occasion. Read on to explore Bastille Day party ideas that’ll help you plan an interesting event at home.
Bastille Day Party Ideas
Check out the following ideas to make your Bastille Day celebrations fun and enjoyable.
Bastille Day party decorations and supplies: You may want to decorate your home, dining table and the entryway if you’ve planned a special party for July 14. You may decorate your home with a patriotic bunting made of cloth having blue, white, and red stripes. In addition, red, white, and blue honeycomb fans can be used to create a French party scene.
As for the table decorations, you may use French floral themed napkins placed in ceramic napkin holders. Besides, foil star cascades in red, blue, and silver can serve as great centerpieces for your party. Latex balloons in red and blue colors will also add to the beauty of your party scene.
You may use Bastille Day party supplies like red, blue, and white streamers so as to decorate your home. Red and blue colored paper plates and cups can best match the theme of your party.
Bastille Day party recipes: Your Bastille Day menu should have a French flavor. So you may include recipes like French bread, crepes, chocolate mousse, and other tasty dishes. Find out how to prepare Bastille Day Food.
Bastille Day party invitations: Your party invitations must entice your guests. You may use Bastille Day cards with images of sparkling fireworks to invite your dear ones for a grand celebration. Alternatively, you can use cards having images of the Eiffel Tower with fantastic lighting. Cards having images of beautiful flowers in red, white, and blue may really appeal to your guests and make them participate in your celebrations.
These are some of the ideas that can make your Bastille Day celebrations fun and exciting!
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