French Independence! Woo! It's also my 18th birthday, which makes it a Double Woo. I celebrated the day by playing a bunch of Battlefield 1943, to commemorate the Allies saving France's ass in WWII.

I hope the French members don't get pissed that you misspelled Bastille...
So, a question for any French members, is Bastille Day celebrated like the U.S Independence Day, with parades, fireworks and the requisite car and furniture sales (which are the same as the sales on Memorial Day, President's Day, Labor Day, Arbor Day...)?

I've never understood the sale on a holiday mentality
"Its the anniversary of one of the pivotal moments in my country's history, it deserves solemn recognition and respect. I'm buying a new bedside table!"

happy Bastille Francisco!

Ahhh, Bastille day... Time for a game of Broken Sword I think...

starting it up right now! thank gog!

Thanks! Happy Independence day to all Americans (a little late)! And happy birthday to you!
There's no problem. Bastille or Bastele, we just got it! =)
We've got parades and fireworks. Parades in town for the most part, fireworks everywhere.
But we doesn't have "the requisite car and furniture sales", beside personal, small fireworks.
Side question: Does all (or most) Americans have flag ahead of house? Or is it just on photos? Or a local trend?

Thanks! Happy Independence day to all Americans (a little late)! And happy birthday to you!
There's no problem. Bastille or Bastele, we just got it! =)
The flag outside of the house really depends on the region. In the South and Southwest there tends to be a more patriotic fervor and thus results in more flags hanging or being placed in some fashion outside of the house. In the Northern regions of the US, not so much IIRC. Of course this also depends if you go to a suburb or a city. In the cities, people don't really have too many ways of adorning their homes with an American flag because of the fact they live in apartment buildings, whereas people in suburbs own their home and thus are able to place a flag outside of the hous. Hope that helps.
Damn forum quoting thing is acting funny again ...

Having lived in almost every part of this country except for the west coast, I can honestly say it is mostly a photo/advertising thing. Around Independence Day, many people do start to "put on their patriotism" and plant a flag in the front yard or on their house, but by the end of the month, those flags are mostly gone. There are certain regional exceptions, like Judas mentioned, but for the country as a whole, the flag is not the common yard accessory that photo and video advertising would have you believe.

I never put an American flag outside my house. It seems really tacky. Texas is not as Southern as some of the states that surround us, like Tennessee. I was driving from Texas to New Jersey and back, and when I reached that state (took me an entire day to drive through it), I started seeing billboards advertising God, small churches with giant crosses, and farms as far as the eye can see. I took an exit to reach a Subway, which was nestled in this small town, and every house had giant American flags. There was this black guy that entered the Subway two minutes after me, and everyone in the restaurant looked like they were not very welcoming of this man.

Could do with something like that around here!
Anyone got a spare Guillotine?
Plenty of royals around if you want to go old-school...

Thanks guys for your replies. I must say I guessed what the answer would be...
Syme: I think there are morons everywhere and it's possible (but rare) to meet them in group. And when you're not from the town/region and you meet them, it's easy to think that all region is like that.

Thank you, and I apologize for my comments about the area of Tennessee. I was traveling along the highway, you see, and the highway passes through many small towns and farm land. It is, by no means, an accurate representation of the entire state. I came to inaccurate conclusion while I visited, and while that particular town was stuck in a time long forgotten, the whole of Tennessee should not be assumed to be similar. I apologize once again, and hope that I did not upset you extremely.

I care more about your birthday than about some Frenchy holiday.
Couldn't resist, sorry.