Celebrating France is always a good idea, but it’s especially fun on Bastille Day when so many around the world join the celebration. The flag itself always warms my heart – for me, it’s a symbol of all that I love about this beautiful country.
Designed by the painter Jacques-Louis David, the tri-color flag became the official symbol of France on February 15, 1789. The blue and the red are taken from the color of the cocardes worn by insurgents early in the uprisings – in reference to the city of Paris. It was the Marquis de LaFayette who had the idea to include the white to symbolize the monarchy. Three days after the storming of the Bastille, King Louis XVI wore a cocarde of blue, white, and red. Unfortunately, it didn’t help his cause.
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