Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14th, commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a pivotal event in the French Revolution. The Bastille was seen as a symbol of tyranny and royal oppression. Its capture represented the uprising of the people against King Louis XVI's authoritarian regime. This event galvanized the revolutionaries and marked the beginning of popular sovereignty in France, leading to significant social and political changes. Bastille Day is marked with festivities, including fireworks, parades—most famously the military parade on the Champs-Élysées—and various cultural events, symbolizing liberty and the long struggle for freedom.