|
To understand the culture and customs of a country is the true key to
knowing that country and the people who live there.
Holiday Calendar
The French observe 11 national holidays each year, and have traditional
celebrations for some that date back to the first civic calendar established in
1582.
French Cuisine
French
cuisine has long been the standard by which food is judged around the
world. French cookbooks were first available
in the middle ages, and along with French cooking schools, instruct the greatest
chefs everywhere. There are 4 major types of French cuisine: haute cuisine
which originated with the feasts prepared for French kings, includes elaborate,
rich and beautifully presented multi-course meals; cuisine bourgeoise
is home cooking of the best quality; cuisine des provinces is
regional or country foods prepared with fresh, local ingredients; and nouvelle
cuisine which is a response to heavy or
rich dishes, and while it still uses the finest ingredients, it is lighter with
precise presentation that is an art form in itself. Usually, the day starts with
a light petit déjeuner (breakfast) of juice, croissants or bread and
café au lait (coffee with hot milk) small black coffee or hot chocolate. Déjeuner (noon meal)
usually served between noon and 2 pm is not taken
lightly or
rushed which explains the resistance to fast food, although cafés do serve
filled croissants and the popular crôque monsieur (grilled ham and cheese sandwich). Dîner (evening meal) is usually eaten at 9pm or later.
French cuisine means eating leisurely, a ritual which often takes 2 to 3 hours,
and may consist of 6 or more courses including appetizer; entrée (first
course); main
course of fish or meat and vegetables; salad; cheese;
dessert, fruit; and coffee; digestif (Cognac,
Armagnac) and always, of course, wine. See: French
food,
wine, Champagne,
kitchen.
French History
French history goes back to prehistoric times
with the Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon man who created the earliest
painting known in the Chauvet cave in
southeastern France dating back 30,000 years. Every period of French history has produced great art from the landscapes of the Baroque
to the Impressionists and into the 20th
century. The architectural legacy
is as rich--the Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals, the Classical Palace of
Versailles, the gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte,
Chateaux of the Loire Valley, the revolutionary work of Le Corbusier. Interior
design, furniture and finishes, and decorative arts (Gobelins, Saint-Gobain, Beauvais, Aubusson,
Sèvres) of Louis XIV to Louis
XVI have never been surpassed. Many of the decorating terms we use
originated here (Dictionary of Design
terms). French history is rich with the
lives and events that inspired them from the great kings to the French
Revolution to Napoleon Bonaparte to
the Republics (Bookstore
Directory).
Fashion
 French fashion IS fashion! History
of French fashion.
French Language
Our close relationship with France dates back to the beginning. Without
support from Louis XVI we might not have won our independence. We have fought
with them in the great wars and joined with them to create a better peace.
Still, some hesitate to visit because they don't know the
French language. You don't
have to be fluent, but some French language basics will make your trip more enjoyable
and it's
never been easier--there are books, audio cassettes and CD's or take a French
translator. "To have
another language is to possess a second soul." Charlemagne.
French Education
French education is important and starts early. Most children go to écoles
maternelles (nursery schools) or classes enfantines (kindergartens)
as early as 2 years old. School is mandatory from 6 to 16: at 6 to primary
school, at 11 to secondary. Activities such as sports, folk dancing, and games
are organized separately and are scheduled for Wednesday afternoons when schools
are closed. Normal school days are from 9 am to 4:30 pm including Saturday
morning. Technical schools are open to students at age 14. Starting at age 16,
French education begins to prepare
students for national diplomas. University entrance at 18
requires preparation at a lycée to pass the difficult national baccalauréat
exam. Degrees are licenses (bachelor's), maîtrises (master's),
agrégation (doctoral).
Entertainment
-
Café--coffee with conversation, cards or dominoes
-
Football (soccer)
-
Films
-
Rugby
-
Golf
-
Skiing
-
Tennis: The French Open is held in Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, in
late May/early June.
-
Swimming
-
Bicycle racing: Tour de France, the world's most prestigious,
founded in 1903. Held for 3 weeks (broken into 21 timed daily stages) in
late June and July. Approximately 200 of the top cyclists race a 4000-km
route including flat sections as well as mountains which changes annually
but always ends on the Champs-Élysées.
-
Pétanque or boules--games played in village squares on a hard
surface with
iron balls which are thrown
Top of French Culture and Customs
Add
French-Luxury to your favorites
|
