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France Shows Its True Colors on Bastille Day

Tara Block — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:38:00 PDT

With blue, white, and red filling the skies and the streets of France, the country celebrates its revolution on Bastille Day or La Fête Nationale today. On the July 14 holiday, Frenchmen and Frenchwomen attend parades, watch fireworks, and enjoy air shows to remember the storming of the Bastille in 1789. See more pictures from the festivities, including gorgeous fireworks over the Eiffel Tower, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy attending the Champs-Elysees parade, and a flag performance by some scantily clad Parisian firemen not afraid to show their colors along with a little skin for the celebrations.

Boudoir Beauty For Bastille Day

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:39:24 PDT

If you're anything like me, you're enamored with the idea of your very own boudoir space. While some favor opulence and others laid-back comfort, each of these rooms can inspire a fresh idea for your home, regardless of its size. These coveted closets are for your delight. So take a moment to celebrate La Fête Nationale with these photos of truly beautiful boudoir spaces.

The Origin of the French Kiss

TresSugar — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:15:10 PDT

Happy Bastille Day! We have lots of things to thank France for - crepes, lingerie, our inferiority complex - but the French kiss is not one of them.

What we call French kissing, the French call baiser avec la langue (kiss with tongue) or for slang patin (ice-skating shoe). Like a figure eight, I guess?

It's unclear who coined the phrase, but France has been the unofficial romance capital of the world for centuries. If France equals romance, and a romantic kiss involves tongue, then it must be a French kiss? It's kind of a euphemism, really. Less gross than "tongue kiss," catchier than "open-mouth kiss," and not affiliated with ice skating in any way.

While it began appearing in conversation during the 19th century (seems very Victorian?), it took off in the early 20th century when it first appeared in the World War I book Private Lindner’s Letters: Censored and Uncensored of 1918. "I have decided to become a linguist," he wrote. "Being able to read French fluently and speak it wretchedly, and to speak German connectively but not to read it at all, I am taking up Luxembourg, which is a wonderful blend of the two, a sort of liaison between tongues. (Not to be confused with French kissing.)"

In fact if we're going to credit anyone then it probably should be the British and American soldiers of World War I. Upon returning home from continental Europe, they showed their wives and girlfriends what they learned and called it a French kiss.

It's Bastille Day! Channel Your Inner Parisian With These 5 Outfits

Hannah Weil — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:33:42 PDT

Today, the French celebrate Bastille Day - aka La Fête Nationale - and we're honoring it the best way we know how: with cute Parisian-inspired outfits. We admit our thoughts of Paris align not so much with storming the Bastille, but with visions of Coco Chanel, Yves St. Laurent and his "Le Smoking," a chic Carrie Bradshaw making her way around the city, and this dreamy Numéro editorial shot by fashion photographer Camilla Akrans. Then there's the allure of the effortless, impeccably-styled Parisian woman. Click through to shop our outfits, which would also make fine outfits should you be lucky enough to hop a plane to the city of light.

A French Country Kitchen on La Fête Nationale

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:38:25 PDT

Currently coveting a French country kitchen? I'm not surprised! A kitchen invoking the French country feel is charming and rustic. Its mantra is "loved in and lived in." There's no better day to share the look than Bastille Day - the French National Day. Interested in the details of what makes a kitchen French country? Read more!

Get Frenchy With It: Bastille Day Quiz

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:01:39 PDT

Bastille Day is a fave celebration of mine. A little French wine, a little cheese, a baguette - what more could a gal want. Take this little quiz and see how French culture and the French paradox could affect your health for the better.

Bon chance!

Flickr User notfrancois

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Famous Frenchmen - Le Hottie or Le Nottie?

Annie Scudder — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:09:41 PDT

With their romantic accents, cultivated style, and sultry stares, Frenchmen have an extra je ne sais quoi. In honor of Bastille Day, I rounded up some of my favorite famous Frenchies so we can debate, just like the French love to do. Check them out and vote: le hottie or le nottie?

Are You Flaky When It Comes to French Pastry Facts?

Susannah Chen — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:28:58 PDT

Liberté, egalité, fraternité: Good morning and Happy Bastille Day! Today marks the anniversary of France's national holiday, which commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which began the French Revolution. While Parisians celebrate with fireworks and parades, I'll be starting my day off on the right foot with a pain au chocolat and a café au lait (and ending it with a glass of Burgundy or Beaujolais, no doubt). I thought it'd be fun to entice you this morning with a number of pastry fun facts. Do you know much about these buttery baked goods, or are you just good at enjoying them? Find out when you take this quiz!

Source: Flickr User Let Ideas Compete

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Celebrate Bastille Day With French Cuisine

YumSugar — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:29:36 PDT

Celebrate La Fête Nationale with some wonderful French cuisine! July 14 commemorates the storming of the bastille, and what better way to pay tribute than to cook up a storm in your kitchen? Here are 10 recipes full of French flavors that are sure to prepare you for Bastille Day.

Picture It: Night Light

TresSugar — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:00:21 PDT

Fireworks cracked over the Eiffel Tower in Paris last night. Bastille Day, celebrated every year on July 14, commemorates the storming of Bastille and the unofficial start of the French Revolution. We commemorated the event by checking out famous French hotties and learning about the origin of the French kiss.

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