Bastille Day

Ah, Bastille Day. The one day of the year where the French celebrate their ability to storm a prison and overthrow their monarchy. Truly, a reason to celebrate.

On July 14th, citizens all across France don their best berets, and head to the nearest bakery to stuff themselves with copious amounts of croissants and baguettes. They then proceed to engage in the traditional pastime of wine drinking, because let’s be honest, what better way is there to celebrate than by getting absolutely hammered on fermented grape juice?

But the party doesn’t stop there. The pièce de résistance of Bastille Day is, of course, the parade. The French take great pride in their military might, and what better way to show it off than by parading their weapons down the Champs-Élysées? And if anyone is actually able to pronounce the name of that famous street, they are automatically granted honorary French citizenship.

But for those with a more unconventional sense of celebration, there are plenty of options. Some like to reenact the storming of the Bastille by breaking into their local prison and liberating the inmates. Others prefer a more modern twist, and choose to storm their nearest Ikea (because who doesn’t love some Swedish furniture?) in hopes of overthrowing the current furniture trends.

In conclusion, while Bastille Day may seem like just another excuse for the French to break out the wine and cheese, it holds a much deeper meaning. It’s a day to celebrate the power of the people, and their ability to rise up against oppressive regimes. And if that doesn’t give you a reason to raise a glass (or ten), then I don’t know what will. Vive la France!