In France, people celebrate Bastille Day on July 14. The holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789. This event marked the start of the French Revolution.
If you can’t throw a party on the 4th of July, Bastille Day offers a great “second chance” day for celebrating historical events that led to the birth of freedom and democracy. Here are some Bastille Day party ideas for American celebrants.
Decorating for Your Bastille Day Party
Believe it or not, you can get incredible Bastille Day party decorations at most American party stores. For example, many party stores sell fleur de lis patterned mylars. Most also have an international section—many people like to create themes inspired by various countries. You can find flags, backdrops of French landmarks, French flag confetti, French-themed plates and napkins, and more.
Balloon Bouquet Ideas for Bastille Day
Another option would be to create a balloon bouquet in the colors of the French flag. Theirs is red, white, and blue as well. Create bouquets and place them at strategic locations. Choose copper, silver, gold, and black if you want a more elegant atmosphere. Or chrome balloons! You can even use clear latex balloons filled with helium and shiny confetti, which makes a great touch for an evening party that offers an excellent opportunity for photo opportunities and social media sharing.
Setting the Tone for Your Bastille Day Party
You can make your party a casual picnic or a festive, formal evening affair. You’ve got many options!
For example, you can take advantage of fancy party plates and napkins designed to deliver an iridescent look. Or choose opalescent plate ware in rose gold, gold, silver, pink, or marble.
You can play with light too. For example, consider using tapered candles to decorate the table or add LED tea lights and tapers.
Launch Your Bastille Day Party Today
Bastille Day is just one example of how you can connect with family members and friends almost any time of the year by borrowing an occasion from another country. With some creativity, you can take them on a trip around the world without ever leaving your living room!
Here at Paper Plus we have an extensive international section full of party goods that you can use to deck out your next bash. Stop by and check out our inventory!
Bake cookies shaped and frosted like flowers, then wrap them in a paper cone tied loosely with ribbons.
If you’re going to include Mom, make it something she’d enjoy doing with the kids. You could even include grandma as well, so you get an across-the-generations tradition. For example, everyone might enjoy sitting down to share painted sun catcher kits, or potting some plants together. Just make sure Mom isn’t doing the bulk of the work. You don’t want her “gift” to be more time doing the same sort of childcare she does every day!
Persian New Year, also known as Iranian New Year, is celebrated on March 21 to 22. The holiday’s real name is Nowruz, which means “new day.”
The Haftsin or haft-seen table is a collection of seven items that symbolize a different hope for the new year.
It is traditional to bring gifts when you are invited to a Nowruz celebration. Traditional gifts include flowers, sweets, and pastries.
Some of these require a few more props. For example, if you want to do the hot air balloon you’ll need a basket. You stand in the basket. Attach 36” helium balloons to the basket.
There are also thematic options from certain eras. 
Why? Because vanilla is awesome, that’s why. So are cupcakes (first created in 1776). Amelia Simmons invented them in her book: American Cookery. She simply called them “a cake to be baked in small cups.” Later, Eliza Leslie would name the same dish “cupcakes” in her 19th-century book, Receipts.
If you’re into making everything homemade you can even make your own vanilla extract. It uses exactly two ingredients: vanilla beans and 80 proof alcohol. We’ve been known to give them out as holiday gifts after setting them up in pretty bottles with homemade labels. This allows you to choose the vanilla beans you like (there are multiple varieties) and get a stronger flavor than you could get from store-bought, mass-produced vanilla extract.
We all want to have more fun these days and celebrate even small things after coming out of the pandemic. Be the funnest friend around by gracing your group with a little celebration based on one of these holidays every month. Start here because November can feel rainy and dark, and this holiday is primed to offer a little much-needed levity and festivity.
You can find pre-made glow-in-the-dark decorations too. There are glowy party letters, glowy balloons, and other fluorescent and neon party supplies that can help you make your space look amazing. Use your imagination!
You’d be amazed how many party foods you can make glow. Certain ingredients do it naturally, including tonic water, cooking oil, eggs, honey, olive oil, ketchup, pineapples, and milk.
Cover the bottom of your box in felt to create grass or a street. You can also use the felt to decorate the outer parts of the box, creating a diorama with a little texture. Usually, a shoebox will do, but if you want to give yourself a little more space a gift box can provide some extra room.
You don’t have to decorate your whole house this year, and that might be kind of nice! Instead, you can just stage your Zoom background.
If you and your family have formed a “Covid Pod” then you might be doing an outdoor gathering this year. Look for decorations that won’t be defeated by wind. If you’re doing balloons, add weights to them to keep them in place.
There’s no glossing over the fact that a Zoom Thanksgiving isn’t “the same” as the festivities you’ve enjoyed in the past. Try not to let that get you down. If you treat your call with your family and friends like an event for the day that allows you to connect and catch up, and go out of your way to make it as festive as possible, then your holiday can still be meaningful and special.
