JULY 14

Today is the day we call Bastille Day, a French holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1879.   The French just call it La Fete Nationale or The National Celebration.

The Bastille was a fortress-prison located in Paris.   French citizens were attempting to free political prisoners held there by King Louis XVI.  It marked the beginning of the French Revolution which lasted about ten years.  In the 1790's, the monarchy was abolished and a democratic republic was established.

Celebrations are held all over France on this date and in many European countries.  Surprising to me, there are Bastille Day celebrations in most large American cities.

Don't be misled, as I was, that this is the basis for the great novel of historical fiction by Victor Hugo:  Les Miserables.  He published his novel in 1862.  The conditions described in his work were those that eventually led to the revolution.

o.o