^^..French Customs..^^
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French customs
Marriage and family
A legally recognized marriage only if it has held a civil ceremony, but many people also held a religious ceremony. A growing number of people living together, some with intent to marry later, others considering the couple as an alternative to marriage.
Family ties remain very strong, but there has been a change, passing from extended families to nuclear families smaller. Families have on average fewer than two children, and now many children leave home after school.There has also been an increase in the number of people who choose to remain childless. Living standards are among the highest in Europe when using purchasing power parity (PPP), although the class structure is still visible. The housing conditions have improved in the last four decades, and now the rate of homes occupied by their owners is over 50%.
Meals
The French consider cooking an art, and culinary specialties are known around the world. The first French books cooking dating from the Middle Ages, the French standards have been the norm in the culinary arts. French wines are also internationally renowned. Regional traditions are strong.There are several types of cuisine, ranging from affordable and abundant food to sophisticated dishes with expensive ingredients, expensive and complex sauces. La Nouvelle cuisine, which originated in the 1970's, was a reaction to the heaviness of this style of cooking. While still using expensive ingredients, it is much lighter, the portions are smaller and more artistic presentation.
The French tend to eat a light breakfast (petit déjeuner), which usually consist of croissants or bread and coffee or hot chocolate. Lunch (déjeuner) was once the main meal of the day, but today many people, especially in urban areas, making a lighter lunch and performs the main meal in the evening. In Paris, lunch takes around 13 hours and dinner (dîner) at 19 pm or later. In other areas, people tend to eat more soon.
The sedate ritual meals is important in France. Meals and formal dinners can last for more than two hours. Generally include an appetizer, main dish of meat or fish with vegetables, salad, cheese and fruit. These elaborate meals often end with dessert and coffee.
The French have been reluctant to fast food, although this resistance has not been successful at all, and many hamburger work throughout the country.The most traditional form of fast food is filled croissants and sandwiches that can be purchased in shops and cafes. The cafes also offer croque monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich), a vegetable dish similar to a salad and an assortment of cold cuts (charcuterie). The patisseries sell pasta and crêpes crêperies.
The French visit restaurants more often than their northern European neighbors. Almost all restaurants have fixed price menu (a choice of two or three first and second at the same price) and a menu offering individual choice. In most of France it is customary to choose the fixed price menu, unless it is a special occasion.
Social Habits
In France it is customary to say hello and goodbye with a handshake, which should be firm but not aggressive, as this would be considered a lack of education. Among friends and relatives kissing women (both men and women) up to three times on both cheeks often actually touch cheeks and "kiss the air" -. Common greetings are Bonjour (Good day) and Comment allez-vous? or the more informal ça va? (Both forms mean how are you?).Greetings are usually accompanied by the name of the person or title, and usually precede any conversation or request. Au revoir is goodbye (Till we meet again) or the less formal À bientôt (up soon). Among close friends and colleagues used the names, but otherwise it is important and regular use the titles. In addition to professional qualifications, are used Monsieur (Mister), Madame (Mrs.) and Mademoiselle (Miss).
The local café is often the main center of social life, but now more and more people spend evenings at home. Social life usually reserved for the weekend. The French are formal in their visits, and they do not usually occur without prior notice. It is customary to arrive at a social gathering to 15 or 20 minutes late, but major delays are not well regarded. The hosts were presented with a bottle of wine or other small gift. The hosts feel they are responsible for the evening and enjoy guiding or directing social gatherings, providing places where everyone should sit down, leading the conversation, etc.. Guests are expected to show some deference to the host and, except when they are very good friends, do not take many familiarities. It is important to congratulate the host for food and wine, good food as a source of pride in French homes.
Entertainment
Football and rugby are very popular sports and cycling race Tour de France, held annually, is followed avidly. Nearly 2 million people belong to clubs fans of football, and cycling, fishing, tennis, walking, skiing and sailing have a high number of participants. Hunting is also popular as horse racing and golf. La Pétanque (or boule), a game similar to bowling, is widely practiced, especially in the south, where it originated. Horse racing provides the possibility of betting. Bullfights are held only in the south, mainly in Languedoc-Roussillon and in the Basque Country.
Take place throughout France summer music festivals, have increased aid to concerts, theater and opera. The situation of the theater is flourishing, in part because of generous state subsidies. The film is popular, museums have also enjoyed increasing support.
Festivals
The French celebrate the New Year on January 1 and the Feast of the Epiphany, also called Le Jour des Rois (Three Kings Day) on 6 January.That day he takes the traditional galette des rois (twisted roll of kings), which hides a surprise which is in its portion of the roulade is crowned "king" or "queen" for that evening.
Easter Sunday is followed by Easter Monday, also an official holiday. May Day (May 1) people wear lilies in bouquets sold at street stalls that day. It is said that those who have made wishes as the flowers of May Day will see them fulfilled. Labor Day is also celebrated in France on 1 May. VE Day (Victory in Europe), on 8 May, commemorates the German unconditional surrender to Allied forces in 1945.
The day of the Ascension, 40 days after Easter, marks the day that says that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. On Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter is the day that says that the Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples in tongues of fire, symbolizing the birth of the Christian Church. The next day, Whit Monday is holiday.
Perhaps the most colorful festival is the French Bastille Day (La Fête Nationale) on 14 July. The Bastille, a Parisian prison became a symbol of the monarchy, was attacked by angry citizens on July 14, 1789. That event started the French Revolution. Today, on 14 July there day and night fireworks, parades and dancing in the streets.
The Assumption Day (August 15) commemorates the day when it is said that Mary's body ascended to Heaven. All the Christian saints are honored on November 1 in La Toussaint, or All Saints Day. Armistice Day (November 11) marks the day in 1918 when the armistice was signed between the Allies and the Central Powers, encountered in the First World War. Christmas is celebrated on 25 December.
Many workers have five weeks of vacation a year, and some catch up to four weeks in summer. During August, the traditional month for vacations, many factories and offices close, and some restaurants in Paris. Traditionally, the French have spent the holidays in their own country, many of them by camping. Today, a growing number are looking further afield. Several million people practice skiing in winter, most of them on the premises of the French Alps
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