Bastille Day
As early as 1789, the year of the storming of the Bastille, preliminary designs for a national festival were underway. These designs were intended to strengthen the country's national identity through the celebration of the events of 14 July 1789. One of the first designs was proposed by Clément Gonchon, a French textile worker, who presented his design for a festival celebrating the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille to the French city administration and the public on 9 December 1789. There were other proposals and unofficial celebrations of 14 July 1789, but the official festival sponsored by the National Assembly was called the Fête de la Fédération.
Croatia–France relations
France recognized Croatia on 15 January 1992 and established diplomatic relations three months later. President of Croatia Ivo Josipović was invited by Francois Hollande to celebrate the National Day of France in July 2013. Minister of State for European Affairs Harlem Désir visited Croatia on July 14, 2015 to celebrate French Independence Day and met with Prime Minister Zoran Milanović.