Bastille Day will be marching back onto the world’s stage on the 14th July 2025.
Regarded as the most important French national celebration, this year’s Bastille Day is once again expected to feature the annual Bastille Day military parade, one of the world’s oldest continuous parades.
However, Diplomatic Network (Asia) wishes to explore the other sides of Bastille Day, as well as the nation of France, to commemorate such an important event. In an exclusive interview, Andrea Bidnic, a Generation Z university graduate from Paris, shared his thoughts on Bastille Day.
Andrea is a recent graduate in history and politics from University College London, and has over three years of experience working in journalism.
Q: What significance does Bastille Day have for France as a whole?
Bastille Day, as many may know, commemorates the start of the French Revolution. Most people think it is supposed to mark the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, which is the event that kicked off the Revolution.
To be slightly annoying, my history teachers used to say that July 14th is not celebrated in remembrance of 1789, but rather of 1790. The Fête de la Fédération (Festival of the Federation) in 1790 took place on July 14th to commemorate the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille in 1789 and to celebrate French unity.
It is all a bit confusing, but Bastille Day is essentially a modern commemoration of the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille in 1789.
Overall, the principles of the French Revolution are absolutely paramount to the way the French people and their politics operate. Equality before law: the idea that everyone is born equal with no noble privilege is probably the most important value derived from the Revolution.
Q: What are the common activities/events on Bastille Day, especially popular amongst the youth?
In all honesty, the youth doesn’t really do anything on Bastille Day. The exception would be the people participating in the military parade on the Champs Élysées, but for them, it is like any other public holiday. There are however big fireworks display across the country on Bastille Day.
Q: I heard there will be a big parade in Paris during Bastille Day. Is this typically the main national event commemorating the day?
Oh no, actually, there is one other tradition which is more rural and in which I’ve never participated myself. It is called the Bal des pompiers (Firefighter’s Ball). Basically, it’s an informal party where everyone is welcome and is organised by firefighters.
At night people would go to fire stations for dancing and drinks. It is a kind of community building event and also a way for firefighters to connect with the public.
Q: Let’s turn to French cuisine. It is often regarded as something fancy and expensive. Do you agree with this stereotype? Are there any cheap and simple dishes that are uniquely French?
French cuisine is not necessarily expensive. One cheap, well, not super expensive dish which I can think of is tartare de bœuf. It is fresh raw beef seasoned with many condiments, onions, capers and so on.
But it is also not something that people make usually. I usually only eat tartare de bœuf at a restaurant.
Q: France is also a nation of many regions, are there any hidden spots that tourists tend to miss out on which you would recommend?
While I am not really a tourism specialist, overall I’d say every part of France has more than its reasonable share of tourists. Perhaps the countryside in the Southern Lot (a department of France) is slightly underrated. It’s beautiful, calm, and there are canyons in which you can drive kayaks and swim as well.
Q: You have been in a unique position, having studied outside of France for your university degree. What have you learnt about the way France is perceived in the world?
France and the French definitely do not leave people indifferent. In my three years living abroad, I’ve heard so many things.
I’ve heard the French being called stereotypes like snobs and cheese-eaters, and the cheese-eating part is true. I have also heard the stereotype that the French like to “surrender”. This one is not true, we fight and win a lot in sports, so maybe people like to tease France when we beat their national team.
I think it is part of a love-hate relationship with the rest of the world. Considering that my accent is very thick and obvious, I’ve never been able to hide my Frenchness, so I stand out in other countries.
I guess like every other Frenchman, I’m not a massive patriot at home, but as soon as I leave, I tend to become one. I realise how unique France is to everyone else, so I embrace some of the weird opinions people may have of France.
Q: Last fun one, favourite French piece of media?
Crazy question. Difficult to pick one thing.
I would say my favourite French movie is Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), which is a family favourite growing up, and I have seen it about a hundred times.
To explain, it is a very famous romance movie. The actors only sing the whole film. It has an absolutely heart-shattering ending.
*Diplomatic Network (Asia) wishes France a Happy Bastille Day!
