| Written by Ed Lamaze,
on 07-10-2008
|
Views : 592  |
 This coming Monday, on July 14th not today, the 10th, the country of France will mark the 218th observance of Fete de la Federation or Bastille Day. The day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in France and symbolizes the uprising of the modern French nation. On that fateful day some two hundred odd years ago a group of close to 1000 insurgents overtook the Bastille, a prison, and freed all of the prisoners housed there. All seven of them. It was more of a symbolic insurgency. The French really don't like to quibble over numbers and whatnot.
But the date, the 14th of July, is what is important for our purposes here. The distinction is significant, the 14th as opposed to the 10th, for many reasons. First, should you choose to park anywhere along the Champs-Elysees today, the 10th, chances are very good that you will be able to find a spot. Should you choose, however, the 14th--forget it. The Champs will be filled with revelers and all manner of celebrants.
Secondly, should you choose to visit the Eiffel tower today, on the
10th, chances are you will enjoy scenic views of Paris with very little
fear of being burned or torched by the massive fireworks display which
is scheduled for the Bastille Day celebrations on the 14th. Trust me,
you do not want to be anywhere near the tower on the 14th.
Third, and I feel this one is pretty significant, Bastille day is on
the 14th of July not the 10th. It's just a fact. Check a calendar. Look
it up. Write it down. Commit the date to memory.
Why, you ask, does there seem to be such confusion over the actual
observance of Bastille Day? And why do I even care that you care? The
14th is truly a great day with much to celebrate, especially if you're
French or in France. But the 10th is an even greater day and worthy of
greater celebrations. The 10th of July may quite possibly be the best
day ever!
My dear mother never could get it strait. You see, my birthday is on
the 10th of July. Today. July 10th. Not the 14th. That is Bastille Day.
Every year I would wake in anticipation on the morning of the 10th
expecting cake, ice cream and presents only to find a big pile of
notta. Then the 14th rolls around and--SURPRISE!! Year after year I
would remind my mother that my birthday was on the 10th that Bastille
Day is on the 14th. I would disappointedly remind her that my birthday
had passed and she forgot it once again. Year after year she would
respond, "Really, I thought Bastille Day was on the 10th."
"Mom, why do you even care when Bastille Day is. You're not French--you're Texan!"
Today is July the 10th, my birthday, and in the words of my good buddy, Sponge Bob, quite possibly the best day ever!
Now let's go have some cake!
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