Bastille Day 2023, PM Modi to be Guest of Honour at National Day of France

France’s Bastille Day 2023: The national day of France, celebrated on July 14 annually, is commonly referred to as Bastille Day in English-speaking countries. National Day of France, also known as Bastille Day, is important for UPSC Prelims Exam 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- International Relations, Bilateral Relations b/w India and France).

France’s Bastille Day 2023 in News

Recently, PM Modi thanked French President for invitation as Guest of Honour at France’s Bastille Day 2023 celebrations. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be Guest of Honour at France’s Bastille Day celebrations on 14th July.

Bastille Day/ National Day of France

July 14 is observed as the National Day of France, commonly referred to as Bastille Day, commemorating a significant event in France’s history. This day is celebrated as La Fête Nationale or Le 14 Juillet in French.

• The event being marked is the fall of the Bastille, a fortress prison that was regarded as a symbol of authoritarianism and monarchy. The day holds great importance for the people of France.
• Every year, the French commemorate Bastille Day with a range of festivities, including traditional parades, public events, fireworks, and general merrymaking. These celebrations serve as a symbol of the French people’s unity and togetherness.

Bastille Day, Historical Background

July 14, 1789, is considered a significant date in French history as it marks the beginning of the French Revolution. On this day, Parisians stormed the Bastille, which was a symbol of the monarchy and authoritarian rule.

• The successful seizure of ammunition and weapons from the Bastille marked a turning point in the fight against the “Ancien Régime” and the royal troops.
• The fall of the Bastille was seen as a victory for the people of Paris and later, the structure was demolished.
• A year later, on July 14, 1790, people celebrated the Feast of the Federations to mark the end of absolutism and the beginning of a new era.
• Thousands of people gathered at the Champ de Mars in Paris, where Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord conducted a Mass at the Altar of the Fatherland.

• After being abandoned for several years, July 14 was officially declared a national holiday of the Republic on July 6, 1880, when the Parliament passed an act to commemorate the historic event.

Bastille Day Significance

The significance of July 14 lies in its symbolic representation of the people’s triumph. This historic day was celebrated with immense zeal and fervor in 1919, following the end of World War I that lasted from 1914 to 1918. Similarly, after the conclusion of World War II, the people celebrated with three days of civic festivities to mark the occasion.

India-France Business Summit 2023, Celebrating 25 Years of India-France Friendship

India-France Business Summit 2023, Celebrating 25 Years of India-France Friendship

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