The French government has agreed to pay rises worth up to $9.1 billion for its health workers in a last-minute attempt to stave off protests scheduled for Bastille Day on Tuesday.

After seven weeks of tense negotiations, the government and trade unions reached a deal that will swell health workers' monthly pay packets by an average of $208. Most of the pay rise will cover wages for nurses, care workers and non-medical staff, with $512 million reserved for doctors who work exclusively in the public sector.

Prime Minister Jean Castex described the agreement as a "historic moment for our health system."

He added: "This is first of all recognition of those who have been on the front line in the fight against this epidemic."

President Emmanuel Macron also praised the country's health workers during scaled-down celebrations to mark Bastille Day on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite the cash injection, hundreds of hospital workers still took to the streets of Paris on France's national day to demand better pay in light of their efforts to contain the coronavirus in a country that has suffered more than 30,000 fatalities, Europe's third highest death toll. 

Bastille Day is traditionally a day of celebration, but also protest, dating back to its origins as the symbolic start of the French Revolution on 14 July, 1789, and the storming of Paris's most notorious prison.

What is Bastille Day?

The French actually never use the name Bastille Day. They call their national holiday simply 'Quatorze Juillet,' or 14 July.

France, like most other European countries, did not have a real official holiday until well into the 19th century. After the French Revolution in 1789, little had changed. The birthday of the king was celebrated, as were several saints' days. There were also far more popular regional holidays. It was not until 1880 that people thought there should be a national holiday. 

The choice of a revolutionary event was obvious. But which one? 

Should it be the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen on 26 August, 1789? The suspension of the King on 10 August, 1792? The abolition of the monarchy on 21 September, 1792? Or should we celebrate the execution of Louis XVI, the last King of France, on 21 January, 1793? It took plenty of discussion to agree. 

Eventually, two options remained: 4 August, 1789, which marked the non-violent abolition of the nobility and of feudalism. Or maybe 14 July, 1789, the day the infamous Bastille prison in Paris was stormed? 

The choice of the date became subject to a fierce debate. The right-wing wanted the first, the left demanded the latter. 

Finally, in 1880, 14 July was chosen because, according to many, it was the event without which the other events of the Revolution would never have taken place. For the first 10 years, the party was boycotted by the right, but gradually the day became part of the calendar for all. It also denotes the official end of the school year and the beginning of summer.

How does France usually celebrate Bastille Day?

Nowadays, 14 July is an extra day off. It is not celebrated exuberantly. In Paris, the Champs-Elysées is the setting for a massive military parade. 

In smaller towns, officials give speeches about the values of the Republic (Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité), but to say they draw crowds would be an exaggeration. Many fire stations all across the country host popular Bals des Pompiers in the evenings, where the whole neighborhood is welcome to dance and to drink. 

The holiday usually ends with fireworks. For most French people, however, 14 July is not so much festive because the Revolution is commemorated, but more because that day is usually the start of their long-awaited summer holiday.
 

How will this year's event be different?

Today, Bastille Day will be unlike any other national holiday. Following coronavirus measures, the traditional parade on the Champs Elysées has been cancelled for the first time since World War II. There will be fewer fireworks and fewer parties. The balls in the fire stations have been cancelled as well.

Also, President Macron will give a televised interview in which he will announce his new course for the last two years of his mandate. In April 2022 there will be presidential elections, and Macron is slowly starting his re-election campaign.