France.

What was the Bastille?

It was an ancient royal prison in Paris.

The storming of the Bastille was seen as a symbol of what?

It was seen as a symbol of freedom and the uprising of a modern French nation which lots of positive changes.

What year did the storming of the Bastille take place?

1789

Who led the angry mob that stormed the Bastille?

Georges Jacque Danton. He was a leading figure at the beginning of the French Revolution because he became the first president of the Committee of Public Safety. So he was calling a lot of shots and had great power.

What date does Bastille Day fall on?

Bastille Day is celebrated on July the 14th every year.

What other countries celebrate Bastille Day other than France?

Bastille Day celebrations happen all around the world. However, the main countries that celebrate include the U.K, Czech Republic, India, New Zealand, United States, South Africa and Tahiti.

What is Bastille Day called in French?

Bastille day translates to ‘la Fête nationale’ in French. However, the term ‘Bastille Day’ is used around the world to refer to celebrations.

How can you wish a French person a happy Bastille Day?

Joyeux Quatorze Juillet”, or “Bonne Fête Nationale” which translate to ”have a good natiomal day” in English.

When was Bastille Day declared the national holiday?

Bastille Day has always been a popular day in France. However, it wasn’t until 1880 on July the 14th, that it became an official holiday. Meaning all school kids and adults would get a day off to celebrate. Since then, the celebrations have become bigger and better!

What are the typical celebrations that happen in France on Bastille day?

Many different celebrations happen all over France. Usually, they will include meals with family and friends, music, dancing, parties and fireworks. It’s a chance to meet up with your loved ones and have some fun!

Why is Bastille Day so important?

It’s a very important day because it marks the beginning of the French Revolution. A time of huge social and political change that became very important in the history of France.

How many prisoners were in the Bastille on July 14, 1789?

There were only 7 prisoners in the Bastille at the time of the storming. And they were all freed!

Where is does the most impressive Bastille Day celebration take place?

The Champs Élysées! It’s the largest parade in Europe and attracts over 25,000 visitors every year. There is dancing, music and food throughout the day and an extremely impressive firework display to end the day in the evening.

What was the period called before the French Revolution happened?

Ancien régime.

Who was on the throne during the storming of Bastille in 1789?

Marie-Antoinette was the Queen of France during this time and Louis XVI was King of France.

The post FAQs appeared first on bastilledaynola.com.

So, you’re probably wondering what dishes are usually prepared in New Orleans for Bastille day. Let’s take a look…

1. Pastries

Ok, we all know that French people love their pastries! Every time I envision myself in France, I think about running to the store early in the morning to grab a croissant and coffee before starting my day. It’s very common for Bastille Day celebrations in New Orleans to have an array of pastries for you to enjoy. Such as, crossiants, eclairs, cannelés, macaroons, financiers, crepes, madeleines, creme brulee, brioche, rose des Sables and so much more!

2. Gumbo

Gumbo is an authentic New Orleans dish made with vegetables, dark roux, chicken, sausage. shrimp and served with rice. And yes, it’s absolutely delicious! It’s a popular dish to make for Bastille Day because you can cook it in one big pot in whichever quantities you want. Also, a homemade Gumbo always goes down a treat! You can take our word for it.

3. Rich cheeses

I mean, who doesn’t love cheese? you really can’t go wrong with serving a selection of rich cheeses out with some crackers, bread and chutney. There are many popular types of french cheeses that you are likely to find served at Bastille Day celebrations. Including camebert, brie, epoissess, gaperon, mont d’Or, munster, pont l’Eveque, Saint Nectaire and Bleu de Bress.

4. Jambalaya

Jambalaya is actually very similar to Jumbo and is also an extremely popular dish in New Orleans. It’s made with rice, meat (usually chicken and chorizo), vegetables (peppers, onions, celery etc) and seasoned (garlic, herbs and Cajun spices) very well. It’s safe to say it’s filled to the brim with flavour and deliciousness.

5. French cakes

Again… who doesn’t love cake? Bastille Day will always be filled with yummy goods to satisfy your sweet tooth. There are many popular french cakes that are served. The most popular types include baba au rhum, buche de noel, charlotte, croquebouche, dacquoise, fraiser, gateau and paris-brest.

6. Red Rice and Beans

This is a very popular dish in New Orleans. It sounds very simple but the taste is anything but. In fact, it’s quite a time-consuming recipe but so worth it. The ingredients include red beans (usually left to simmer all day), vegetables, cured pork, sausage, oh and patience! It’s bursting with flavour and you’ll find that families in New Orleans like to enjoy it at least once a week. You won’t blame them after you try it.

7. The New Orleans Muffuletta

Muffuletta is one of New Orleans specialities so if you see it on Bastille Day, you must try. You can find good muffuletta in so many places in New Orleans… they take the recipe very seriously. It’s essentially a deli sandwich with a fresh olive salad made on homemade bread. You can fill it with whatever ingredients you like. Common fillings include olive salad (in them ALL), capicola or deli ham, genoa salami, mortadella, sliced mozzarella and provolone cheese. But many more too!

8. Flamiche

French flamiche is an absolute classic and a very traditional dish. The ingredients include pie crust, milk, leeks, eggs, butter, salt and pepper. It has a delicious and creamy taste that will leave you wanting more. It’s an easy recipe and you’ll find that many French families sit down to enjoy it at least once a week. So it’s a must-try!

The post Foods & Special Dishes Enjoyed at Bastille Day in New Orleans appeared first on bastilledaynola.com.

1. You won’t hear anybody in France referring to this day as ‘Bastille Day’

‘Bastille Day’ is purely the name for it in English Speaking countries. Whilst of course the French are aware of this name, you will not hear it referred to this within French borders (well, maybe by tourists). Instead, it’s most commonly referred to as ‘Fête Nationale’ but you will sometimes hear it called ‘The National Holiday’ too.

2. The storming of the Bastille didn’t rescue too many prisoners

As well as know, the storming of the Bastille is a very significant event in history. This is why it’s a very common misconception that a large number of prisoners were freed that faithful day. But in fact, there were only 7 prisoners found and freed! The prison was almost empty. The French Revolutionaries who broke into it definitely expected to find more.

3. Two prisoners escape so quickly that they were never identified

Two out of the seven prisoners freed, ran away so quick that no one could identify them. To this day, no one knows who they were and what crimes they committed.

4. The famous French philosopher Marquis de Sade would have been freed, but was transferred 10 days before

If you haven’t heard of Marquis de Sade before, he was a man of great importance – a philosopher, writer, politician and nobleman. However, he was without a doubt known mostly for his erotic writings. He was the man that gave birth to the term ”sadism”. He was arrested for allegations of sexual abuse. Just 10 days before the storming of Bastille, he was transferred to a different prison outside Paris. This was because he was constantly shouting crazy things to passersby beneath his window. If he stayed, he would have undoubtedly been the 8th prisoner freed on that day.

5. There were several dates consider to mark the Bastille Day national holiday

Choosing a date for this national holiday was a huge ordeal amongst the French Statemen. Many of them were against July the 14th because they believed the event was too ”bloody” to gain a celebration. However, they still wanted to celebrate this historic event, just with a different date. Therefore, many other dates were thrown around, such as September the 21st, the day the French Republic was created. But July the 14th won the vote in the end!

6. If you head to the fire departments, you’ll get to see firemen busting out some moves on Bastille Day

Needless to say, not everyone can take a day off for this national holiday. The firefighters are an emergency service, so they are in the category of people that still need to work. However, they don’t let this stop them from having fun (in between calls). It’s a tradition for firemen in France to throw public dances on Bastille Day. They host huge dance parties that are usually open to everyone in the neighbourhood. Typically, you will have to pay a fee but if not there will always be a donation pot.

7. The Bastille was not orginally designed to be a prison

Construction started on the Bastille in 1357. It was built with the intention that it would stop invasions and keep armies out. This was when England and France were in a huge war that last over 100 years. It had many great attributes, such as high walls and massive gates. Therefore, King Louis XIII decided it would become a prison once the war was over.

8. Thomas Jefferson donated to the families of the revolutionaries

Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd U.S president took a lot of interest in the storming of Bastille. So much so, that he decided to get involved by donating money to the families of the revolutionaries. He gave this money mostly to widows of those killed in Bastille.

The post Facts About Bastille Day appeared first on bastilledaynola.com.

Bastille Day became an official holiday all the way back in 1880 in France. But the celebrations can be traced back to 1770! This day is referred to as ‘La Fete Nationale’ and is celebrated all over France. In fact, it’s difficult to find a town or city that didn’t have celebrations going on after it became an official holiday. Since then, the rest of the world have joined in on the celebrations. In particular, the United States, Kingdom, Czech Republic, India, New Zealand and the Czech Republic celebrate this day. Most of the rest of the world refers to it as ‘Bastille Day’!

How were the first Bastille Days celebrated before it became very popular?

From the very beginning of Bastille Days, it has been celebrated with dances known as ‘Bal des pompiers’ in French (the Firemen’s Ball in English). Everyone would get involved in these dances throughout the day from all around the country. At some point during the day, a parade would start and people would follow it throughout the town and cities whilst doing this dance. It was also very common to hear speeches about Bastille day – reminding everyone why it’s important and why it’s celebrated. Also, there would always be fireworks displays to watch in the evening. This all still happens, but the fireworks displays are much bigger than ever before!

What does Bastille Day mean today?

At present time, Bastille Day has undoubtedly maintained its significance and importance. Because it represents the start of the French Revolution! A very transitional time that bought on lots of change for the French and went down in history. In fact, it’s one of the most popular events in European history. So, it’s not surprising that it’s remained a popular celebration all over the world. Today this day is still a national holiday in France! You can expect huge celebrations with parades, music, dancing, food stalls, fireworks and so much more.

The post Bastille Day History appeared first on bastilledaynola.com.