France Commemorates Both Revolution and WWI With Bastille Day Parade

By Alex Magdaleno 1 day ago

C'est le quartorze juillet and France is celebrating.

In July 1789, crowds of Parisians stormed the infamous French prison — the Bastille — signifying the beginning of the French Revolution, the end of Louis XVI's reign over France and future independence.

On July 14, 1790, France commemorated the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille with the fête de la fédération, which has now become known as the fête nationale for the French or Bastille Day for foreigners.

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The most famous Bastille Day celebration is the military parade down the Champs-Élysées — the oldest and largest military parade in Europe — on the morning of July 14. This year in particular, soldiers carried the flags of 76 countries down the famous street to celebrate not only French independence 224 years ago, but also the centenary (100th anniversary) of World War I.

France invited all members who participated in the battlefield — allies and foes — to join them in their annual celebratory parade. Three soldiers from each country walked down the Champs-Élysées holding their country's flag.

At the end of the parade, a group of youths from the invited countries closed the ceremony with a "peace dance" and the release of doves. And to end the entire day, Parisians were treated to a firework show fired from the Eiffel Tower.

Check out photos of the parade and celebration of French independence on Bastille Day, below.

Bastille Day fireworks explode over the Seine river next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 14, 2014. Bastille Day commemorates the storming by Parisians of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, setting off the French Revolution that toppled King Louis XVI and put an end to monarchy.

Image: Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

Troops marched down the Champs-Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014. Soldiers and flags of 76 countries walked down the famous street in Paris as France’s traditional Bastille Day military parade also commemorated the centenary of the First World War.

Image: Thomas Samson/Pool/Associated Pres

Jets of the Patrouille de France flew over the Arc de Triomphe during the traditional Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.

Image: Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool/Associated Press

Republican Guards rode down the Champs-Elysees on horseback as a part of the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press

Japanese soldiers marched down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press

U.S soldiers walked down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
Algerian soldiers walked down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press French President Francois Hollande, standing left in the command car, drove down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
Leclerc tanks drove down the the Champs-Elysees for the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
Drones are displayed on military trucks during the Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press

Bastille Day comes to an end with a fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 14, 2014.
Image: Jacques Brinon/Associated Press
French soldiers dressed like WWI soldiers marched down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014. Part of the celebration included honoring the centenary of WWI.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
Students officers of the fire brigade school walked down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
Greek soldiers walked down the Champs-Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
French military school Saint Cyr students joined the march during the traditional Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris,France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Remy de la Mauviniere/Associated Press
Youth from around the world danced with doves as a part of the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2014.
Image: Francois Mori/Associated Press
To conclude the Bastille Day parade, youths from around the world released doves on the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 14, 2014.
Image: Remy de la Mauviniere/Associated Press
Bastille Day fireworks explode over the Seine and behind the Eiffel Tower marking the end of the Bastille Day celebration in Paris on July 14, 2014.
Image: Jacques Brinon/Associated Press