Origin Stories Behind 20 Holidays

Bastille Day

Named “Fête nationale” by the French and referred to as Bastille Day by English-speakers, July 14 commemorates the day in 1789 when the Bastille Saint-Antoine—a fortress—was stormed, which spurred the French Revolution. Today the French celebrate the national holiday with public events like dances, parades, concerts, and fireworks from the Eiffel Tower.