Today, is the French National Day, le Quatorze Juillet. Bastille Day, celebrating the storming of the infamous Bastille on 14 July 1789. It was a symbol of Royal oppression, but only held 7 relatively insignificant prisoners on the day it was stormed. 200 attackers and 1 defender were killed in the first round of the battle. Then the Commander, de Launay, surrendered to avoid more deaths. But the angry attackers dragged him from the Castle to the Hôtel de Ville. He was beaten and shouted “Enough! Let me die’, kicking a cook in the groin. He was killed with 7 of his soldiers. However, inglorious a victory it was symbolic of the collapse of the old order.
The French Revolutionary Calendar introduced a rational non-christian calendar to France. The months were given new names as reported, satirically in Britain in 1811, by John Brady as Wheezy, Sneezy and Freezy; Slippy, Drippy and Nippy; Showery, Flowery and Bowery; Hoppy, Croppy and Poppy. (starting with ‘October).
In fact, the real French names were: Vendémiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire; Nivôse, Pluviôse, Ventôse; Germinal, Floréal, Prairial; Messidor, Thermidor, Fructidor.
The official name of July was Messidor (or ‘hoppy’). You might like to have a look at my post on the fascinating details of the Revolutionary Calendar to celebrate the French National Day. The 14th July was the day named after Sage in the Month of Messidor.
First published in 2024, revised 2025
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