Macron and Trump watch Bastille Day celebrations in Paris FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The French national holiday of Bastille Day is celebrated each year on July 14 or le quatorze juillet. The day marks the anniversary of the storming of a grand fortress which was infamous for holding political prisoners. It marks the start of the French Revolution, more than 200 years ago. The national holiday celebrates the actions of a mob of Frenchmen, tired of the rule of their king, who stormed a prison to get weapons and free prisoners. The day is formally called La Fête nationale (The National Celebration) - the French do not use the term “Bastille Day.” The Bastille was originally built in 1370 and was a structure constructed to protect the city of Paris from attack by the English. The fortress was a symbol of King Louis XVI’s rule and was used as a prison. The building itself was 100 feet tall and surrounded by an 80-foot wide moat. Bastille Day 2018: What does Bastille Day celebrate? In July of 1789, France had experienced a summer of food shortages, high taxes and the militarisation of Paris. People were unhappy with the rule of King Louis XVI’s reign and outbreaks of violence started on the streets of the French capital. A mob trying to get the weapons housed inside the prison, attacked the building which sits on the east side of Paris. The prison was stormed on July 14, 1789 and soon after the French Revolution was born. Bastille Day 2018: The day marks the anniversary of the storming of a grand fortress The monarchy was overthrown and Louis XVI and his wife Queen Marie Antoinette were executed. Fête de la Fédération was held on July 14, 1790 and this was a way to celebrate the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in France. A politician named Benjamin Raspail proposed July 14 should become a holiday in France in 1880 and Bastille Day was a public holiday for the first time on July 14, 1880. The French flag and national anthems are symbolic of both the revolution and Bastille Day celebrations. Bastille Day 2018: Firework displays are held to celebrate Bastille Day Bastille Day 2017 in pictures Fri, July 14, 2017 The 14th of July is an important date in the French calendar but this year the world will be watching as Donald Trump joins French President Emmanuel Macron for the celebrations Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 24 French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk on the Place de la Concorde at the end of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris<doc-sep>Macron and de Villiers appear side-by-side on Bastille Day top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The French National Day, otherwise known as Bastille Day, will take place tomorrow in celebration of a turning point for the French revolution. The day marks the storming of the Bastille, when the French public stormed the fortified french state prison. Used as a political prison by the French monarchy, the public stormed the site which was one of the last royalist strongholds in central Paris. A total of 900 people were involved in the storming of the site, as crowds developed with the hopes of securing huge reserves of gunpowder inside for use by general public. The Bastille was a strong symbol of the absolute rule of the French monarchy, which stored prisoners in its walls known for writing in disagreement with the government. As the Bastille was stormed, over 200 people attacking the fort died, and the French revolution began in ernest. The following decade was one of the bloodiest in French history, and both King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were killed, marking the end of the monarchy. Now, Bastille day is celebrated to mark the beginning of the French republic, and the dawn of France as it is today. Bastille Day 2018: What is Bastille Day? How is it celebrated? How do the French celebrate Bastille day? Present celebrations for Bastille Day have their origins in the 19th century, when a feast was arranged to honour the French republic in 1878. Two years later, on May 21, 1880, French politician Benjamin Raspail proposed that the day be immortalised as a national holiday, and this was later voted through. From 1880 through to present day a military parade has been held on the morning of June 14 to mark the occasion. A bronze plaque on the Place de la Republique depicts the storming of the Bastille The oldest of its kind in Europe, the parade progresses from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where the French President and foreign ambassadors will stand. The event receives widespread attention, and is broadcast on French TV. However, Bastille day has also been a day of tragedy in recent years for France, as in 2016 a terror attack rocked celebrations. Celebrations in Nice in 2016 were interrupted by Tunisian terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who drove a truck into crowds, killing 86 people and injuring 434. The truck used in the devastating Nice terror attacks Bastille Day 2017 in pictures Fri, July 14, 2017 The 14th of July is an important date in the French calendar but this year the world will be watching as Donald Trump joins French President Emmanuel Macron for the celebrations Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 24 French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk on the Place de la Concorde at the end of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris<doc-sep>Millions of French people all over the world are celebrating Bastille Day, a holiday that honors democracy and equality in France. What is Bastille Day? Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution. On July 14, 1789, just two days after the revolution began, a mob broke into the Bastille Fortress in Paris, which held stockpiles of weapons as well as political prisoners. After taking gunpowder and arms, the mob killed the prison's governor and infamously held his head on a stick, according to the British Library. The storming sent a signal to the French monarchy that the French people were embracing the revolution's motto, liberté, égalité, fraternité, or liberty, equality and brotherhood. The riot was a call for the establishment of a republic in France in the face of an oppressive regime and food shortages that spurred on the revolution. How is Bastille Day celebrated? In Paris, Bastille Day is celebrated with a military parade down the Champs-Élysées, one of the city's major avenues. The parade starts at the Arc de Triomphe and ends at the Place de la Concorde. Thousands dance and cheer alongside the parade, and parties take place throughout the city. Last year, President Donald Trump joined French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for the festivities. This year, Macron invited the leaders of Japan and Singapore. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is joining Macron for the parade, but Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is being represented by Foreign Minister Taro Kono in order to handle deadly flooding in Japan, according to Reuters. The parade lasts more than two hours and involves over 4,200 soldiers, 220 vehicles and 100 aircraft. Japanese and Singaporean soldiers are also taking part in the parade to represent their respective relationships with France. Bastille Day celebrations are not limited to Paris. Across France, other parades and parties will commemorate the move towards democracy over 200 years ago. Festivities will also take place in countries around the world, including South Africa and India.<doc-sep>PARIS (Reuters) - France celebrated Bastille Day on Saturday with a colorful military parade in Paris presided by President Emmanuel Macron, and hoped the party would continue on Sunday when the national soccer team meets Croatia in the World Cup final in Russia. Slideshow ( 24 images ) Standing on a military vehicle flanked by motorcycle escorts and led by a cavalry procession, Macron rode down the Champs Elysees, Paris’s most famous boulevard, for his second July 14 parade, cheered by hundreds of spectators. Bastille Day commemorates the storming of a prison in 1789, a key event in the French Revolution. After U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017, Macron this year invited the leaders of Japan and Singapore, two Asian nations with long-standing strategic partnership with France. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who canceled to deal with deadly floods at home, was represented by Foreign Minister Taro Kono. The more than two-hour parade, with some 4,200 soldiers, 220 vehicles and around 100 aircrafts, saw Japanese and Singaporean soldiers take part as guests of honor. There were two glitches, though, as two motorcycles collided during a demonstration in front of guests, while an Alpha jet from the Air Force Patrouille de France acrobatic unit released a wrong color for the French flag during a formation flight. France has mobilized around 110,000 security staff for the Bastille Day festivities and World Cup soccer final. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets, from Paris to the smallest of villages, and the celebrations are likely to continue long into Sunday night if France lifts the World Cup for the second time. “Perhaps it will be us marching on the Champs Elysees tomorrow, we hope,” said Philippe on BFM Television, who traveled to Paris to watch the military parade and plans to return on Sunday to celebrate if France wins.<doc-sep>
Macron and de Villiers appear side-by-side on Bastille Day France celebrated Bastille Day on Saturday with a colourful military parade in Paris presided by President Emmanuel Macron. The country hopes the celebrations continue into Sunday the the national football team meet Croatia in the final of the World Cup tomorrow. Macron attended his second July 14 parade, as he rode in a military vehicle flanked by motorcycle escorts and led by a cavalry procession down the Champs-Elysées - Paris¹s most famous boulevard. Last year, President Donald Trump attended the celebrations in the capital of France, and this year Macron invited the leaders of Japan and Singapore, to the day¹s events. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, cancelled his appearance to deal with deadly floods at home, and was represented by Foreign Minister Taro Kono. The more than two-hour parade, with some 4,200 soldiers, 220 vehicle and around 100 aircrafts, saw Japanese and Singapore soldiers take part as guests of honour. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets, from Paris to the smallest of villages, and the celebrations are likely to continue long into Sunday night if France lifts the World Cup for the second time, having last lifted the trophy in 1998. When is Bastille Day? Bastille Day is celebrated in France every year on July 14 or le quatorze julliet. Bastille Day 2018: The oldest military parade takes place in Paris on Bastille Day The Bastille Day military parade down the Champs-Elysées in Paris has taken place on the morning of July 14 since 1880. The parade is the oldest military one in the world and thousands of people line the street to watch personnel march, ride and drive down the famous avenue to Place de la Concorde. Trumpets announced the arrival of President Macron and once he had been saluted and an air show involving 64 planes took place. Spectacular firework displays take place all over the country on the 14th, but one of the most spectacular ones takes place in Paris at the Champ de Mars, the gardens stretching between the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire. Bastille Day 2018: Emmanuel Macron travelled in a military vehicle down the Champs-Elysées What is Bastille Day? Bastille Day marks the day a medieval fortress and prison in Paris was stormed on July 14, 1789, which was a key point in the French Revolution, known as Fête de la Fédération in France. In the 18th century, France was in turbulent times and a political crisis was brewing, as people were unhappy with Kin Louis XVI¹s reign, which was dominated by food shortage and high taxes. Violence starting breaking out on the streets of the French capital and the uproar came to a head with the storming of the political prison - Bastille. The mob stole the weapons stored inside and freed political dissents who had been locked inside and had become a symbol of oppression and injustice in Paris. The Patrouille de France Alpha Jet aircrafts perform at the start of the annual military parade Bastille Day 2018 in pictures Sat, July 14, 2018 Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the honoured guest at this years Bastille Day parade. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 21 Emmanuel Macron reaches out to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the parade