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French-American Heritage Month

July is designated as French-American Heritage Month and is dedicated to celebrating and honoring the influences and the contributions that the French have had on the United States in art, culture, language, etiquette, and more. There are many ways to celebrate the month and recognize the shared culture and partnership with France, including enjoying French cuisine with friends, contributing to an organization supporting French-American culture, or engaging in social media discussions.

Approximately 11.8 million Americans of French or French Canadian descent live and work in the United States, with about 2 million of those speaking French at home. As of the 2011 census, an additional 750,000 French-American citizens were added to those numbers due to the large creole community, whose language is based on French.

The term Franco-American or French American can be used broadly to refer to people of French, French-Canadian, Acadian, and Cajun descent. French Americans are United States citizens or residents who have full or partial French ancestry. Many emigrated from regions in France, especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, French Americans, who can be found throughout the United States, constitute one of the largest European ethnic groups in the country.

French Americans have contributed to the history, culture, and economy of the United States in many ways. New Orleans, Louisiana, and parts of New England have particularly strong French influences, both from France and from French Canadians. In New Orleans, the distinctive local variety of French architecture is a testament to its French colonial heritage, while the annual Mardi Gras festival traces its roots back to French carnival traditions.

Many French Americans have had a significant impact on American arts, culture, politics, and science. For instance, the arts have been influenced by French filmmakers, artists, and writers who have lived in the United States, while politics and science have been shaped by figures of French descent, such as the scientist Jacques Monod or the politician and diplomat Dean Acheson. The culinary scene has also been enriched by the influence of French cuisine.

It's also important to note the significant population of people of French Canadian descent in the United States, particularly in states such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Some of these individuals and families came to the United States from Quebec in the 19th and early 20th centuries, seeking economic opportunities. Their impact can be seen in the Franco-American communities of New England and elsewhere, which have maintained elements of French language and culture.

Franco-Americans or French Americans have contributed to many aspects of American culture and society. Chloë Sevigny, Patricia Arquette, Timothée Chalamet, Julie Delpy, and Angelina Jolie have in common? They’re all French-American in some way. Some are born of French-American parents, some have French-Canadian ancestry and were raised in the United States, and some are first-generation French-Americans. Here are a few notable figures:

• Paul Revere (1735-1818): Although more commonly associated with his English heritage, Revere's mother was French Huguenot, and his father was of French origin, too. Revere was a silversmith and industrialist who played a key role in the American Revolution.
• Louis Chevrolet (1878-1941): Chevrolet was a Swiss race car driver, co-founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911, and a major figure in the development of the automobile industry.
• Liberty Lighting the World, commonly known as The Statue of Liberty, stands 93 meters above Upper New York Bay. The Statue of Liberty was made in Paris and presented to the United States in 1881 as a gift to commemorate the alliance between France and the United States. Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor who designed the statue, is said to have modelled her face after his own mother.
• Julia Child (1912-2004): Child was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality. She is recognized for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," and her subsequent television programs, most notably "The French Chef," which premiered in 1963.
• Jack Kerouac (1922-1969): Kerouac was an American novelist and poet, a prominent figure in the Beat Generation of the post-WWII era. He was of French-Canadian descent and spoke Joual, a dialect of Canadian French, as his first language.
• Ellen DeGeneres (b. 1958): DeGeneres is a well-known comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer. She is of French, English, German, and Irish descent. Her French heritage comes from her paternal grandfather, who immigrated to the U.S. from the Bordeaux region of France.

Overall, French Americans have a rich and diverse heritage that reflects both their origins in France or French Canada and their experiences in the United States.

Bastille Day, also known as French National Day or Fête Nationale, is a significant holiday celebrated annually on July 14th in France. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, which marked a pivotal moment in the French Revolution and the beginning of the end of the monarchy.

The storming of the Bastille was a symbolic act by the revolutionaries who sought to challenge the authority of the French monarchy and demand more democratic rights and freedoms. The prison was seen as a symbol of oppression and tyranny, and its fall represented the people's uprising against the monarchy's arbitrary rule.

The Bastille prison was largely empty at the time of its storming on July 14, 1789. The prison was not a significant holding place for political prisoners, contrary to popular belief. It primarily housed a small number of common criminals, and its symbolic value as a symbol of royal authority made it a target for the revolutionaries.

The storming of the Bastille, although it had little practical impact on the French Revolution, was a highly symbolic event. It represented the popular uprising against the monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution, which aimed to challenge the authoritarian rule of King Louis XVI and bring about political and social reforms. The fall of the Bastille became a powerful symbol of the people's struggle against oppression and sparked further revolutionary actions across France.

Today, Bastille Day is celebrated throughout France with various festivities and events. The most significant celebration takes place in Paris, where a grand military parade is held along the Champs-Élysées. The parade showcases the French Armed Forces, including soldiers, military equipment, and aircraft, and is attended by the President of France and other dignitaries.

In addition to the military parade, Bastille Day is marked by numerous public events, including fireworks, concerts, dances, and parties held across the country. French people often gather with friends and family for picnics, enjoying traditional French cuisine and wine. The day is a national holiday, and many businesses and institutions are closed.

Bastille Day is not only celebrated within France but also by French communities around the world. It serves as a reminder of the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity that are central to the French national identity.