Bonjour from France in festive July

­Bonjour,

I hope that you and yours are well.

Here in France, we’re gearing up for one of the most important days of the year – Quatorze Juillet, or Bastille Day as English speakers call it! It’s a day of celebration, festivities, family and friends getting together and feasting, that last bit I am sure will surprise no one. But it’s not a greatly gastronomic affair, there’s no big sit-down meal like Thanksgiving Day in America or Christmas Day. Generally it’s picnic, barbecues and buffet style food – a day to relax, not be tied to the kitchen. That would, I think, go against the principles of 14th July – after all it’s a celebration of the end of tyranny in France.

It’s a huge national event here – but you won’t hear a single Frenchie calling it Bastille Day! The French think it most odd that we English speakers have christened it so despite it being in honour of storming the Bastille in 1789, a medieval fortress in Paris which served as a prison and housed ammunition. And if you want to know more about Bastille Day – how Queen Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XIV almost made it to freedom in America where a house awaited them, and more fascinating facts – there’s a podcast here: Bastille Day in a Podcast, and if you prefer to read, there’s an article here: Everything you want to know about Bastille Day.

I will be going to a Firemens’ Gala (Bal de Pompiers) the night before Bastille Day – another tradition although a more modern one. It began in 1937 when a group of people followed firefighters back to their station from a Fête Nationale (another name for 14th July) parade and carried on partying! At our local fire station it’s very much a family affair – the firemen lay on a buffet for all to enjoy, there’s music and dancing, but I hear that at some do’s there are firemen prancing about Chippendale style! It’s all about fund raising though, so all in a good cause.

And if that’s not enough festive fun for one month – there’s the Tour de France which starts today (4 July 2026). And there’s also the football World Cup – and Monsieur Lafont at our local bar, who is commonly known as “Lafont of all knowledge,” has predicted a win for France. We shall see!

And finally, something else to celebrate – it’s the A to Z of France on Instagram – join me there and share your favourite places in France as I share my best photos!

Bisous from France,
Janine
Editor

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