It’s Bastille Day! See How People Are Celebrating In France

Vive la France! Today is Bastille Day, which marks the day in 1789 when French citizens stormed the Bastille, a fortress in Paris used as an armory and prison for political prisoners. It’s also noted as one of the seminal events in the early days of the French Revolution. Today, the celebrations are a point of French pride — a commemoration of their highly regarded ideals of liberté, égalité, fraternité. In France, as well as in cities with French connections across the world, the celebrations are a joyous affair—often including free live music, loads of wine and cheese, and, of course, fireworks.

Here’s  look at 14 ways the people of France are celebrating this July 14 holiday!

Today is Bastille Day or La Fête Nationale as its known in France. The holiday commemorates the start of the French Revolution which began in 1789 with the Storming of the Bastille, a fortress and prison. In modern times, the day’s most celebrated event is a military parade through Paris that begins at the Arc de Triomphe – seen in this Overview – and ends at Place de la Concorde. Today also happens to be my birthday. Joyeux Quatorze Juillet! /// Source imagery: @digitalglobe

A photo posted by Daily Overview (@dailyoverview) on Jul 14, 2016 at 5:19am PDT

On July 21, 1910, Childe Hassam wrote to the artist J. Alden Weir that he had been in Paris for two weeks. He added, “I have made a 14th July from the balcony here”— evidently referring to this painting, which depicts the street below the Hôtel l’Empire (located at 7, rue Daunou, near the Opéra) during #BastilleDay celebrations. Childe Hassam (American, 1859–1935). July Fourteenth, Rue Daunou, 1910, 1910. #TheMet #ChildeHassam #14Juillet

A photo posted by The Met (@metmuseum) on Jul 14, 2016 at 9:04am PDT

We were treated to a fittingly beautiful start in Montpellier on #BastilleDay this morning #TDF

A photo posted by teamsky (@teamsky) on Jul 14, 2016 at 6:56am PDT

H-6 before the firework ! Are you ready?! #BastilleDay #Paris #Parigi #巴黎 #パリ #파리 #باريس #Париж #프랑스 #フランス #法國 #Франция #france #igersfrance #loves_france_ #super_france #europe_vacations #parisjetaime #topparisphoto #cettesemainesurinstagram #parismonamour #visitlafrance #igersparis #parismaville #hello_france #TourEiffel #EiffelTower #france_vacations #topeuropephoto #topfrancephoto

A photo posted by Marc Nouss (@marc_nouss) on Jul 14, 2016 at 8:02am PDT

Pic nique du 14 juillet #francoislefrancais #foodporn #14juillet #bastilleday

A photo posted by Pico (@gethardhero) on Jul 14, 2016 at 10:06am PDT

Happy Bastille Day ❤️

A photo posted by First Class Belongings ✈️ (@firstclassbelongings) on Jul 14, 2016 at 10:02am PDT

Happy #Bastille Day! Paris, France. By @patrickcolpron .

A photo posted by BEST VACATIONS (@bestvacations) on Jul 14, 2016 at 9:56am PDT

La Fête Nationale #bastille day #arcdetriomphe #paris

A photo posted by Nicole Scherzinger (@nicolescherzy) on Jul 14, 2016 at 5:37am PDT

Happy Bastille Day ! Posting a new edit of this picture cause I am not in Paris this year to capture the French air patrol ! #Paris #France #parisjetaime #parismaville #igersparis #topparisphoto #loves_paris #igersfrance #loves_france_ #super_france #france_vacations #france_holidays #instagramfr #Parigi #巴黎 #パリ #파리 #باريس #Париж #프랑스 #フランス #法國 #Франция #ig_europe #patrouilledefrance #bastilleday #fetenationale

A photo posted by Olivier Wong (@wonguy974) on Jul 14, 2016 at 1:47am PDT

Happy #Bastille Day thank you @fscapferrat for the cute #Macarons

A photo posted by Ben Palmer-Penn (@benjamin_palmer) on Jul 14, 2016 at 10:16am PDT

It’s my first Bastille day in Paris! Missed the parade this morning but met up with my french homies @hebdomania & @lostncheeseland for some pastries with a view

A photo posted by Joann Pai (@sliceofpai) on Jul 14, 2016 at 9:06am PDT

Celebrating Bastille Day, the French National Day. Obligatory champagne. Santè! ❤️ ##lafetenationale #lequatorzejuillet #bastilleday #sante #cotedazur #vacay #france

A video posted by SANCHIA LAMBERT (@sanchialambert) on Jul 14, 2016 at 12:07pm PDT

Amazing photo of the défilé aérien this morning captured by @leparisblog. Check out her page for beautiful scenes around the city! • #parisphotograph #14juillet #france #parisfrance #parisianlife #BastilleDay #parisjetaime #parisiloveyou #weloveparis #iloveparis #travelgram #igersparis #igersfrance #visitparis #slowlife #instaparis #instatravel #pariscartepostale #lovesfrance

A photo posted by Bike About Tours (@bikeabouttours) on Jul 14, 2016 at 10:26am PDT

#bastille #bastilleday #pokemongo #pokemon

A photo posted by The official Someecards. (@someecards) on Jul 14, 2016 at 10:06am PDT