What’s the difference between the 4th of July and the 14 Juillet?
16 Jul '20 by Julia Tilley
In this blog post, we explore the historical backgrounds of the 4th of July as well as the 14 Juillet, and see how the two are linked.
We also go into present-day celebrations.
The 4th of July in the United States
The 4th of July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This followed after the 13 original American
colonies all voted to separate from Great Britain. Because of this, it is seen as the birth of the United States of America.
At this point, the American colonists were already at war with Great Britain. This was because many Americans found King George III’s
regulations to be oppressive and restrictive. Those who wanted to separate from Britain fought with those who wanted to remain under British
control. But, after Thomas Paine wrote and distributed “Common Sense,” more and more people wanted and fought for
independence.
After, drafts of the Declaration of Independence began. Thomas Jefferson is credited with writing the majority of it. On July 2, 1776,
congress voted to declare independence, and two days later, the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The 14 juillet in France
Le 14 juillet, on the other hand, dates back to 1789, when over 7000 French citizens stormed the Bastille, a fortress/prison, as a first
attempt to overthrow the monarchy. The Bastille was seen as a symbol of the power held by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. This was seen as
the official start to the French Revolution, which is why it is still celebrated in France.
Around this time, the French economy began declining, due in part to the high amounts of spending done in the royal court. There were
drastic gaps in socioeconomic status - food was scarce for many, and the nobility and the clergy were doing nothing to help. The poor
received news that they would need to pay more taxes in order to restore the economy, which caused unrest and the desire to rebel. The
French people wanted all social classes to be treated equally and have the same rights, instead of the nobility having more freedom than any
other social class. Thus, the protests began, with one of the biggest being the Storming of the Bastille.
On the same day a year later (14 Juillet 1790) was the Fête de la Fédération, which was a festival to celebrate the anniversary of the
storming of the Bastille as well as unify the French people and the French army during the revolution. Both are seen to be celebrated
annually.
How are these days celebrated today?
Today, both holidays are celebrated similarly. Both holidays often include firework displays and parades. There are many local and
state-wide celebrations and parades in the United States, and Paris even holds a military parade for 14 juillet. Both holidays are often
celebrated with friends and family. In the US, it is very common to host or attend a barbecue and eat food like hot dogs, hamburgers, potato
salad - things you find at a traditional American barbecue. In France, many prepare and eat charcuterie boards, paired with wine. There are
also bals des pompiers (firemen balls), which are large parties, which trace back to an important aspect of the French culture, which is bals
populaires (popular
dances).
Of course, because of the COVID-19 situations in both countries, some celebrations were modified. But, even with the pandemic, many still
found ways to celebrate the holidays with loved ones.