Millions of French people from all over the world celebrate July 14, a celebration honoring democracy and equality in France.

What is the day of the Bastille?

Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution.

On July 14, 1789, two days after the beginning of the revolution, a crowd invaded the fortress of the Bastille in Paris, where were stockpiles of weapons and political prisoners. After taking gunpowder and weapons, the crowd killed the prison governor and held his head on a stick, according to the British Library.

The storm sent a signal to the French monarchy that the French people embraced the motto of revolution, freedom, equality, fraternity, or freedom, equality and fraternity . The riot was a call for the establishment of a republic in France facing an oppressive regime and food shortages that sparked the revolution.

How is the national holiday celebrated?

In Paris, the national holiday is celebrated with a military parade on the Champs-Elysees, one of the main avenues of the city. The parade begins at the Arc de Triomphe and ends at the Place de la Concorde.

Thousands of people dance and rejoice by the parade, and parties are held throughout the city.

Last year, President Donald Trump joined French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for the festivities. This year, Macron has invited the leaders of Japan and Singapore. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joins Macron for the parade, but Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is represented by Foreign Minister Taro Kono to handle the deadly floods in Japan, according to Reuters.

The parade lasts more than two hours and involves more than 4,200 soldiers, 220 vehicles and 100 aircraft. Japanese and Singaporean soldiers also participate in the parade to represent their respective relations with France.

The celebrations of July 14 are not limited to Paris. Throughout France, other parades and celebrations will commemorate the movement towards democracy more than 200 years ago. Celebrations will also be held in countries around the world, including South Africa and India.

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