The famous French painting by Eugène Delacroix depicts Liberty as a woman wearing un bonnet phrygien (a Phrygian cap), le drapeau de la Révolution (the flag of the French Revolution) and un mousquet avec une baïonnette (a musket with a bayonet). The woman represents la déesse de la Liberté, Marianne (the goddess of Liberty, Marianne). An allegory of liberty and reason, Marianne is the symbol of France, a national emblem of the French Republic. Although referring to the July Revolution of 1830, this painting is synonymous with the first Revolution of 1789.
The national French motto: "Freedom, equality, brotherhood"
Le 14 juillet marks a pivotal moment in French history: la prise de la Bastille (storming of the Bastille; lit. the taking of the Bastille) on the 14 July 1789, a fortress-prison in Paris representing royal authority. This symbolic day was chosen for la Fête Nationale (French National Day; lit. National Celebration), which is celebrated throughout France (it also commemorates a lesser known event: la fête de la Fédération in 1790). In Paris, Le défilé du 14 juillet (July 14th parade) takes place on l’avenue des Champs-Élysées. In the evening, le feu d’artifice du 14 juillet (July 14th fireworks; note: typically in the singular form) lights the skies above la tour Eiffel (Eiffel tower) with the most spectacular display of the year. But everywhere in France, people are eager de prendre un bain de foule (to go out to mingle with the crowd), watch the fireworks, and guincher (to dance; familiar form) in les bals populaires (the local dance; lit. popular ball). Le bal des pompiers (firemen’s ball/dance) in particular is a traditional party (a custom started in Montmartre in 1937) that happens in les casernes de pompiers (fire stations) around France, and is still very popular.
If you find yourself in Paris for Bastille Day 2014, here is where you can find out what events are going on:
Paris celebrates Bastille day: the complete program for 2014 Le festival Soirs d’été (very popular in Paris after the inauguration of the new Place de la République)
Where to be in Paris to watch the Bastille Day fireworks
