Learning a language means discovering a country’s culture, traditions and rituals that go back thousands of years. Sometimes, certain cultural behaviors are more surprising than others. In France, for example, the custom of kissing 10 times a day shocks foreigners because it doesn’t exist in their own country. Discover in this article the French habits that are strange to the eyes of the world. I’ve divided them into 2 categories: everyday habits, eating habits.
French people’s daily habits
Kissing to greet someone: In France, it’s customary to kiss someone on the cheek. This custom may seem surprising to foreigners in France, who find this gesture too intimate. However, this French custom is governed by very specific codes. Depending on the region where you live, you may give 2, 3 or even 4 kisses. And you can’t kiss just anyone in any situation. It all depends on the context and the relationship between people.
Saying hello to people in the elevator: In France, when you take the elevator and there’s someone inside, you say hello. Even if you don’t know the person. It’s a form of politeness and helps to lighten the atmosphere in a confined space. Sometimes, this positive gesture can even lead the other person to strike up a conversation.
A little anecdote: I was on vacation with my family in Spain. At the hotel, as we got into the elevator, we noticed that the people inside spoke French. Out of habit, we said bonjour to them. It’s a reflex we keep, even abroad.
This video can explain it more:
French dining habits
Dipping food in coffee: Dipping your food in coffee is one of the bizarre eating habits of the French. At breakfast, for example, we spread jam on our baguette, then put it in the coffee and eat it. You can also dip buttered toast, a croissant, a piece of cake… or even bread with cheese!
The aperitif: We can’t talk about typical French habits without mentioning the aperitif culture. The aperitif, or aperitif, is a veritable institution in France. It’s a time to relax and enjoy with family and friends before dinner. We nibble on little things like chips, peanuts or cold meats. We also usually drink a little alcohol, such as a glass of wine or beer. You can have an aperitif in a bar, in the park or at home. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy the moment. It’s one of the country’s coolest traditions, isn’t it? Mind you, you’ll soon get the hang of it!
Snacking: It’s a sweet snack eaten in the middle of the afternoon, around 4pm. It’s mostly children who eat snacks. When I was little, every day after school I had a cookie, yoghurt or fruit before starting my homework.