In French, what is Bastille Day commonly and legally called?

In French, Bastille Day is commonly and legally called le 14 juillet, meaning “14 July.” The phrase names the date rather than repeating the English revolutionary nickname, Bastille Day.

France’s national holiday has a dual historical association. It recalls the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, when revolutionaries seized the fortress-prison in Paris. It also commemorates the Fête de la Fédération held on 14 July 1790, a grand celebration intended to represent national unity during the Revolution.

The holiday was made official in 1880 under France’s Third Republic. Choosing 14 July allowed lawmakers to connect the national celebration with both revolutionary resistance and the more conciliatory symbolism of unity. The law did not need to settle exclusively on one of those historical interpretations.

A common mix-up is la fête nationale, which means “the national holiday.” That phrase is also used, especially in the press, but le 14 juillet is the distinctive common and legal name asked for here. “Bastille Day” is chiefly the English-language label.