French culture exudes style and sophistication, and their public spaces reflect this elegance. French people take great pride in their culture and are offended by comments which disparage it.
French society is generally secular but they hold onto an egalitarian viewpoint, which can be found in their national motto “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.” Furthermore, French people have a passion for art.
Food
Though often taken for granted, French culture and traditions hold a deep-seated appreciation for food. Mealtime plays an essential part of French life – from slow meals on weekends to the prominent presence of traditional holiday dishes.
French cuisine exudes passion and creativity; from its signature dish boeuf bourguignon (External link), with tender beef in velvety wine sauce combining sublimely, to its sun-kissed melody of vegetables in ratatouille (External link), French chefs take great pride in using only high-quality ingredients – like butter on baguettes or salt for seasoning their food!
France holds that 13 is considered unlucky, so seating thirteen at a table would be seen as disrespectful – recalling The Last Supper when Judas betrayed Jesus. French culture places great importance on mealtimes – they generally eat between noon and 5 pm either at restaurants or their homes.
Drink
Alcohol is an integral part of French culture, and they frequently enjoy wine at meals as well as sipping on aperitifs and spirits throughout the day.
During the French Revolution, wine served as a symbol of patriotic allegiance for Jacobins and sans-culottes alike, as well as being consumed as a common beverage by workers unable to afford luxury wines from bourgeoisie estates. After phylloxera destroyed many vineyards, companies produced cheaper absinthe made with grain alcohol to encourage working class consumption.
France is famously famous for its rich drinking culture. Although stereotypes suggest French people get drunk easily, most French drinkers generally take pleasure in enjoying their beverages moderately and responsibly. Wine often accompanies meals while an aperitif or spirit may be ordered before dinner – waiters frequently suggest pairings when asked by customers! A unique French tradition involves serving fish with its eyes still attached – meant to show that it had just been caught!
Dress
One of the cornerstones of French culture is dress. France is widely acknowledged as being a fashion capital, taking great pride in their sense of style and sophistication. No matter if you prefer wearing traditional beret or contemporary Breton shirt fashion trends. Dress well always to stay ahead.
The French take pride in adhering to proper social etiquette. It is customary for them to greet others with “bonjour” or “bonsoir,” using their respective titles such as Monsieur or Madame when greeting someone new. Shaking hands with all you meet is also considered polite; conversing directly over someone is considered disrespectful; discussing personal matters openly with others should not occur either.
While French culture has been heavily influenced by Celtic and Gallo-Roman cultures, they are predominantly Roman Catholic. Past state policies sought to unify France around cultural norms and foster an indivisible sense of ‘Frenchness’ – their national motto being ‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”.
Holidays
Six of France’s 11 official holidays are religious in nature; nevertheless, most Frenchpeople observe and celebrate them regardless.
Ascension Day, which occurs 40 days after Easter Sunday, is an important Catholic holiday in France and serves to remember deceased relatives and Catholic saints. Additionally, many visit Lourdes at this time to witness when Mary appeared to a young girl back in 1858.
Memorial Day, honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, is celebrated annually by visiting cemeteries and leaving flowers such as chrysanthemums (or lilies of the valley) on gravesites. Memorial Day typically falls around May/June for families to come together.
Other secular holidays that do not mark religious beliefs include International Labor Day (Fete du Travail) and May Day, when it is customary to give loved ones a stem of lilies of the valley (“une brin de muguet”). This tradition dates back to pre-pagan times.