Folk Customs

1. Social Etiquette

Compared with the British and Germans, the French are very different in how they treat others. The main characteristics are as follows:

First, he loves to socialize and is good at sociability. For the French, social interaction is an important part of life, and life without social activities is unimaginable.

Second, he is humorous and romantic by nature. They are mostly cheerful and enthusiastic in interpersonal interactions. He is good at eloquent speeches and loves to joke. He hates people who don't like to talk and finds it hard to accept those who have a sad face. Influenced by traditional culture, the French not only love adventure, but also love romantic experiences.

Third, they crave freedom and have poor discipline. The French are the most famous "liberals" in the world. "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" is not only designated as the country's national motto by the French Constitution, but is also clearly written on the national emblem. Although they pay attention to the rule of law, they generally have poor discipline and do not like collective actions to deal with the French. Appointments must be agreed in advance and they must be on time, but they must also be prepared in advance for their possible late arrival.

Fourth, they have strong self-esteem and prefer “domestic products”. French fashion, food and art are well-known all over the world. Under this influence, the French have a strong sense of national self-esteem and national pride. In their view, everything in the world is the best in France. When talking with French people, if you can speak a few words in French, they will definitely make the other person more enthusiastic.

Fifth, chivalry and respect for women. The main etiquette adopted by the French in interpersonal communication includes handshakes, hugs and kisses.

2. Clothing and Etiquette

The French are the most famous in the world for their emphasis on clothing. The so-called "Paris style" has the same meaning as fashion and fashion in the ears of the world.

On formal occasions: French people usually wear suits, skirts or dresses. The colors are mostly blue, gray or black, and the texture is mostly pure wool. When attending a ceremony: generally wear a formal dress. Men mostly wear tuxedos with bow ties or black suits; women mostly wear dress-style monochrome dresses or small dresses. When it comes to dressing up, the French believe that the most important thing is whether the matching is right. When choosing hairstyles, handbags, hats, shoes, watches, and glasses, great emphasis is placed on making them consistent with your outfit.

3. Dining Etiquette

As one of the world’s three major culinary kingdoms, the French are very particular about their diet. Among Western food, French food can be said to be the most exquisite.

The French love to eat pasta, and there are many types of bread; most of them love to eat cheese; in terms of meat, they love to eat beef, pork, chicken, caviar, foie gras, and do not eat fatty meat, pets, Offal other than liver, fish without scales and fish with bones.

The French are particularly good at drinking. They drink almost every meal, and they pay attention to pairing different types of wine with different dishes at the table. In addition to wine, the French also like to drink raw water and coffee.

When French people are dining, they are allowed to put their hands on the table, but they are not allowed to rest their elbows on the table. When they put down their cutlery and forks, they are accustomed to place them half on the plate and half on the table.

French food is quite unique and has long been famous for it. Its cooking technology is second to none in Western food, so many French people are often proud of it. Most of the chefs in Europe's first-class hotels are French. France is the home of champagne and brandy. People believe that if there is leftover wine at home on New Year's Eve, it will bring bad luck in the coming year. French people love to eat snails and frog legs the most. If you order these two dishes, your French friends will be very happy. Today, the consumption of snails in Paris is increasing day by day, with more than 40 food stores selling snails in the city. The most expensive dish in France is foie gras, and the home-cooked dish is steak frites with shredded potatoes. The French, the world's drinking champion, especially love drinking wine. They pay great attention to the matching of dishes and wine when eating, such as: eating fish and drinking white wine, eating meat and drinking red wine. Champagne is the most beautiful wine among wines. Because its production is time-consuming and the process is complicated, it is not very cheap in price. It is also known as the most attractive wine.

Although it is necessary in weddings, receptions, or formal dinners, it is also widely used in other aspects, such as serving oysters, ham, dim sum, etc. However, most people decide what kind of champagne they should drink based on the type of food. A glass of cold champagne is also a great appetizer. If necessary, you can add sugar and a few drops of bitters (BITTERS) to the wine, and add a piece of lemon peel to create a champagne cocktail. In addition, champagne can also be used in cooking. The French also love eating cheese. There are more than 400 kinds of cheese with different colors and flavors. Their consumption ranks first in the world, and they are known as the "Kingdom of Cheese".

Customs and taboos

1. The national flower of France is the iris. Chrysanthemums, peonies, roses, rhododendrons, daffodils, marigolds and paper flowers are generally not suitable to be given to French people at will. Avoid sending yellow flowers such as chrysanthemums and carnations, as they are considered to symbolize disloyalty. Only odd numbers of roses can be given, and red flowers cannot be given except to express love.

2. The national bird of France is the rooster, which they believe is the direct embodiment of bravery and tenacity. The national stone of France is the pearl.

3. Most French people like blue, white and red, and the colors they taboo are mainly yellow and dark green.

4. The taboo numbers for the French are "13" and "Friday", as they believe that these numbers imply danger.

5. In interpersonal interactions, the French attach great importance to gifts, but they also have their own special requirements. It is advisable to choose items with artistic taste and commemorative significance. It is not suitable to use knives, swords, scissors, tableware or items with obvious advertising logos. It is also inappropriate for a man to give perfume to a woman with whom he has a normal relationship. It is rude to accept a gift without unwrapping it in front of the giver.