Today is Wednesday July 14, 2010
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is a French national holiday that is celebrated annually on July 14th. Bastille Day commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution, which began when the Bastille was stormed by the people of Paris. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute power of Louis the 16th's Ancient Regime. While the Bastille only contained seven prisoners at the time of its capture, the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens.
Because the Constitution of France allows the president to pardon criminals, past French presidents used Bastille Day to pardon petty offenders (usually those guilty of minor traffic violations). In 2007, President Nicolas Sarkozy ended this tradition.
Parisians celebrate this national holiday with a grand military parade up the Champs Elysees, arts festivals, and raucous parties. So uncork a bottle of French wine, or better yet French champagne, and toast our French friends on this day.
Today is also Macaroni Day
"Images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/
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On this day in History:
| 1536 - France and Portugal signed the naval treaty of Lyons, which aligned them against Spain. 1868 - Alvin J. Fellows patented the tape measure. 1933 - All German political parties except the Nazi Party were outlawed. 1946 - Dr. Benjamin Spock’s "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" was first published. 1968 - Hank Aaron, while with the Atlanta Braves, hit his 500th career home run. | ||
Quote of the Day:
"'What would you call the highest happiness?' Wratislaw was asked. 'The sense of competence,' was the answer, without hesitation." --John Buchan
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