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The annual Bastille Day in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman

French Ecole National Superieure des officers de Sapeurs-Pompiers (firefighters) stand to attention during the annual Bastille Day parade in French capital Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees commemorates the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT

French AlphaJet of the Patrouille de France fly over Paris during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / SAUL LOEB

French Legionnaires march down the Champs Elysees during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, Friday, July 14, 2017. Paris has tightened security before its annual Bastille Day parade, which this year is being opened by American troops with President Donald Trump as the guest of honor to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I. (AP/Photo/Markus Schreiber)

(Bottom row, from R) French President and Senate President Gerard Larcher, wife of French President Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump, US First Lady Melania Trump and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe look up as they attend the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / joel SAGET

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) waves next to Chief of the Defence Staff of the French Army General Pierre de Villiers (R) as they stand in a military vehicle during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD

French soldiers of the 4th Foreign Regiment of the French Foreign Legion march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD

French Ecole des Officiers de la Gendarmerie Nationale march during the annual Bastille Day parade in French capital Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees commemorates the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT

A woman waves the French flag during the annual Bastille Day parade along the Champs-Elysees in French capital Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT

French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump attend the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Students from the Naval School (Ecole Navale) march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / joel SAGET

Members of the Ecole speciale militaire de Saint-Cyr (Special Military School of Saint-Cyr) march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / joel SAGET

Firefighters of the Paris Fire Brigade march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, stands at attention with French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, right, during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, Friday, July 14, 2017. Paris has tightened security before its annual Bastille Day parade, which this year is being opened by American troops with President Donald Trump as the guest of honor to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I. (Christophe Archambault, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron attend the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attend the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, July 14, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Pioneers of the 1st Regiment of the French Foreign Legion march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD

Soldiers dressed as World War I Sammies carry the US flag as they lead US troops marching during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / SAUL LOEB

U.S First Lady Melania Trump and U.S President Donald Trump attend the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, Friday, July 14, 2017. Paris has tightened security before its annual Bastille Day parade, which this year is being opened by American troops with President Donald Trump as the guest of honor to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I. (Christophe Archambault, Pool via AP)

Members of the National Active Non-Commissioned Officers National School (Ecole Nationale des Sous-Officiers d'Active) march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / joel SAGET

Students of the Ecole Militaire Interarmes (the military school EMIA) march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD

Members of the 68eme Regiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / ALAIN JOCARD

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Chief of the Defence Staff, French Army General Pierre de Villiers (R) arrive for the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The Bastille Day, the French National Day, is held annually on 14 July to commemorate the storming of the Bastille fortress in 1789. / AFP / POOL / Etienne LAURENT

Soldiers dressed as World War I Sammies carry the US flag march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 14, 2017. The parade on Paris's Champs-Elysees will commemorate the centenary of the US entering WWI and will feature horses, helicopters, planes and troops. / AFP / joel SAGET

Updated 14 July 2017 13:07

July 14, 2017 13:07

Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries/lands to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is formally called la Fête nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly and legally le 14 juillet

The French National Day commemorates the first anniversary of Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789a turning point of the French Revolution,as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. Celebrations are held throughout France. The oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, along with other French officials and foreign guests.