Bastille Day 2016

Bastille Day is celebrated annually on July 14 in France and French-speaking regions around the world. To the French it is ‘la fête du 14-Juillet’ or simply ‘la fête nationale’. Signifying the start of the French Revolution, more than 200 years on it is still a central event in the nation’s calendar with celebrations including military parades and fireworks. The storming of the Bastille prison by angry crowds in 1789 in Paris may have been a violent day but nowadays it is marked peacefully by millions.

The volunteers and interns at La Giraudiere are looking forward to the celebrations on Bastille Day 2016. They got off to an early start this morning July 13 by volunteering to assist the local Brossac organising committee in preparing the area at Lake Brossac where the festivities will take place. The area needed to be spruced up worthy of the occasion to be celebrated and our volunteers went armed with brooms, rakes and loppers ready to bring the area up to a pristine state. This is another example of the community involvement demonstrated by La Giraudiere and an opportunity to mix with the local community and speak in French.

Kathryn and Emily doing the big clean.

Bruce and Alina hedge trimming.

Celebrations kick off this evening with a BBQ at Lake Brossac followed by a fireworks display around the Lake. Authorities tell us they expect 5,000 people to attend from all around the local areas. This will be quite a spectacle to see. Of course there will be food and drinks and lots of fun. Having finished the clean up this morning; the volunteers are excited about the festivities which will commence early this evening.

Joanna wiping the bar down.

Kathryn and Emily hard at it.