Paris hosted an extra-special visitor for Bastille Day, France‘s federal holiday Sunday, the Olympic torch entrancing through the city’s grand military parade.
Only 12 days before the European capital visitors extremely optimistic and high-security Summer Games, the light switch joined up with thousands of soldiers, sailors, rescuers, and medics going in Paris beneath roaring fighter jets.
While people around France mark the day with music, events, and lights, here’s a look at what the easter on, and what’s unique this year:
What does Bastille Day celebrate? Rebels stormed the Bastille stronghold and incarceration in Paris on July 14, 1789, bringing the close of the king and the start of the French Revolution.
The trip is key to the French timeline, with activities across the country. It aims to represent the national motto of’ ‘ liberty, equality, and frat,” though not everyone in France feels the nation lives up to that claim.
The Paris festival is the easter show. With a re-enactment of the D-Day flights of June 6, 1944, and a lecture by service users from the 31 nations whose troops helped to the emancipation, it paid tribute to those who helped France escape Nazi occupation 80 years ago. During World War II, about third of Africa’s colonies were ruled by European colonial forces.
Who takes piece? In the expertly choreographed performance, around 4, 000 persons and 162 animals marched against Islamic radicals in the Sahel, protecting European lands in the South Pacific, and protecting world delivery corridors, among them products that served in NATO operations in eastern Europe. Three German soldiers from a cross-border regiment joined them this time.
The decorative clothes have a lot of symbolic meaning, most notably those of the French Foreign Legion sappers, who have long hair, leather apron, and swords from their unique role as route-clearers for advancing soldiers.
Behind, 65 plane flew in structures, including a European Typhoon warrior alongside French Ghosts and Rafales, rescue planes, and aircraft used in expeditions from Afghanistan to Mali or global drug statues.
President Emmanuel Macron reviewed the army to kick off Sunday’s activities.
Defense bands and choirs played an important role, performing a mixture of French martial songs, American music tunes, a British harp song- and the Marseillaise.
Due to Olympic protection measures, the figures are lowered compared to previous years. Around 130, 000 authorities are deployed around France for the holiday trip.
What’s the democratic environment? Macron had a chance to unwind from the social unrest he caused by holding lock elections, which severely weakened his pro-business centrist party and presidency, on Bastille Day this year.
No one was in control of the congress as a result, leading in a deadlock. The left-wing ally that won the most votes is having trouble coming to terms with a suggested replacement for the prime minister, who had step down in days.
However, Russia’s war in Ukraine is threatening Europe’s safety. Macron said at a meeting with military officials on Saturday that” ahead threats” are coming and that France would continue to support Ukraine. He also called for increased defense spending next year. ‘
What’s unique this time? Only in time, the Olympic flame relay arrived in Paris.
The festival wrapped up with the introduction of the fire, escorted by users on horseback, 25 pioneers, and recruits dressed in the five Olympic colours forming the shapes of the five interlocking Olympic rings.
The first torchbearer was Col. Thibault Vallette, equestrian gold medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, who passed it on to a group of young athletes smiling broadly as they passed it hand-to-hand in front of the presidential tribune.
Usually, the parade travels from the Napoleon-era Arc de Triomphe to the Concorde plaza, where France’s last king and queen were beheaded.
This year, Concorde has been transformed into a huge Olympic venue for breakdancing, skateboarding, and BMX. Instead, the parade route made its way to the Bois de Boulogne park on the city’s edge.
The construction of Olympic venues near the Eiffel Tower prevents spectators from gathered beneath the monument to watch its annual fireworks show, either.
After its Bastille Day appearance, the torch relay will swing by Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Sorbonne University, and the Louvre Museum before heading to other Paris landmarks on Monday.
