Fourth v. Fourteenth of July
Celebrating the Fourth of July is quite recent for me. I was born and raised in France where our national holiday takes place on July 14th—or “ten days late,” as my American friends like to joke. But having now celebrated Independence Day a few times in the United States, I couldn’t help but notice flagrant similarities between the two holidays.
For one, both holidays commemorate independences from monarchies. While the French holiday does not in fact celebrate any declaration of independence or separation from an empire, it does acclaim the people’s successful attempt to overthrow the dictatorial policies of the monarchy. Indeed, on July 14th, 1789, over 7,000 people stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, officially marking the onset of the French revolution.
Moreover, both holidays—to my utmost delight—constitute the perfect excuse for indulging in fine cuisine. If my native France favors cheese and charcuterie, I’ve learned that Fourth of July celebrations usually involve barbeque specialties not to be missed. In essence, one of the achievements of a republic is that it knows how to be playful in order to self-celebrate regardless of where it is located, and I am perfectly happy with participating in two national holidays!