Keep that schoolgirl complexion.
France has a long history and rich culture with unique customs. In the following part, we take those most colorful ones and share with you the culture and customs of this romantic country.
First of all, let’s come to “eating” of France. As a Chinese saying goes, “food is the paramount necessity of the people”. However, the money and energy the French people had take into food is no less than the Chinese people do. In French’s life, dairy has played a very important role. For example, they have cheese, cream, milk, yogurt, butter and so on. And these dairy products are divided into different flavors. Besides, the French dishes are also divided into fine class, civilian class, local class, impromptu class and so on, including ultimate food of professional chefs and rural household dishes. French people attach importance to wine- tasting, including red wine, champagne, and beer etc. Generally speaking, they often drink some aperitif first, when having the dinner, red wine matches with red meat(e.g. pork), white liquor with white meat (such as chicken). And normally the dessert is often after a meal. Then usually it is equipped with sweet dessert wine. In short, the food and drink of French are unique, diverse and so forth.
The second topic is dressing. French stress on taste for wearing suit and dress in formal ocassions while dress decency when meeting with friends. The elderly focus on traditional customs, especially the older women. They like wearing skirts in daily life. And the middle-aged wear business suit on work, casual clothes after shift. The young’s dressing is relatively casual, but are not “arbitrary dress”, highlight the personality. From their casual dress, you can see each person’s personality and manner.
France is a country advocating etiquette. On some social occasions, the guests need to show kindness and politeness by kissing hands. In daily life, people cheek-to-cheek to express friendship and respect. And many people used to do handshake with others. But it is should reminded that the time for handshake can’t be too long. And do not hold his or her hand with energetically shaking. France is also a country showing love with kiss. When meeting long – awaited family members, friends and colleagues, they will be close to cheek, their elders would kiss the forehead of the young, and only lovers would kiss. In France, people follow “ladies first” principle when interacting with others in order to show respect to ladies. For example, ladies always reach their hands first to shake with men.
It is impolite to interfere in each other’s private affairs in social contact, such as family, age, salary and so on. Most people are not used to gifting in initial meeting, which will make people disgusted. During the table time, you cannot be entirely in your whole chair when sit there; during eating, it taboos mouth sounds; after dinner, it taboos to put knife and fork without being prosecuted, but should tidy to plate. As for the taboo, the French taboo “13″ and “Friday”. In addition, they taboo yellow and dark green colors, they do not love to talk about peacock and the crane and think that chrysanthemums, azaleas and walnuts are ominous things. As for the marriage customs, the French people have a marriage engagement before they formally get married. Generally the wedding is hosted by the bride’s parents. They invite the parents of the bridegroom, and they can also invite other relatives and friends at the same time. The wedding ceremony is simplified to avoid being over-complicated, but still it is solemn and sacred. After the ceremony they generally hold a banquet, in some places it also shares the custom of bridal chamber.
The French holidays are numerous. For the religious ones, there are Christmas, Easter, Ascension Day, Advent Day and so on. And for the national holidays, they have New Year’s Day, National Day, Labor Day, the anniversary of World War I and World War II and so on. Someone said that French people“Be in love in Spring, strike in fall and celebrate festivals in winter”. We can see French people’s life pleasure and customs are unique.