THE French national holiday of Bastille Day, or la fete nationale (National Day) celebrated every year on July 14 or le quartoze juillet — marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris that was infamous for holding political prisoners in 1789.
The storming of the Bastille was the spark that set off a revolution and 228 years on, it is still a central event in the nation’s calendar. The events of July 14, 1789 also helped entrench the French Republic’s values and motto — liberty (liberté), equality (équalité) and fraternity (fraternité).
Bastille Day is celebrated in true Gallic style across the five continents. In France’s capital city of Paris, the grand celebrations include the Europe’s oldest and largest military parade on the iconic Champs-Elysées and the firework displays that are set off from the Eiffel Tower.
Today, in Suva, the French Ambassador to Fiji and his wife will host a French evening reception at the official French residence for government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and a list of who’s who in society.
And in true French style, invited guests will be hosted to a French buffet that is prepared by French chefs that will take guests on an immediate gastronomic journey to France (salmon, taboule provencal, pork rillettes, oven roasted rib-eye, scallop and prawn mornay sauce, mussel mariniere and French dessert), French champagne Taittinger and assorted French cheese that are specially ordered for the occasion.
The residence will be draped in the tricolour with the National Youth Band playing the la Marseilles (French national anthem).
This year’s la fete nationale celebrations in Suva are also made possible with the generous financial contribution and assistance from French companies in Fiji (Total Fiji, BRED Bank, Bollore Logistics), France based Champagne Taittinger and Airbus, New Caledonia company, Calédonienne des Eaux, under the Suez franchise and local companies Victoria Wines and Fiji Water.
