Bizarre French traditions you might have never heard of
Did you know you shouldn't smile without reason as per French custom? Here are a list of French customs that you knew never existed. Read more!
New Delhi: Sophistication, intellect, and art are some of the aspects of French culture. But what truly sets them apart from the rest of the world is their deep appreciation for their customs, literature, food, philosophy, language, etc. Here is a list of French customs that might not resonate with many of you:
Coming late is polite
Punctuality is important in the French culture. However, there is an exception when you get invited to somebody's house. As per the customs of the country, it is considered polite to arrive 15 minutes late as it gives a breather to the hosts.
There's a day for unmarried women
Saint Catherine’s Day is celebrated on November 25th. On this day, single women above the age of 25 are supposed to pray for a husband and wear a yellow and green hat. The tradition is not very common today.
Kissing everyone
Kissing is a common way of greeting people in France. People kiss each other consecutively on the cheeks. Depending on the region, two or even four consecutive kisses are normal.
Start eating only after everyone is seated
As per French customs, you should wait for everyone to be seated and served food before starting to eat.
Eye contact when saying cheers
While having drinks with the French, maintain eye contact. First, you should maintain eye contact while clinking glasses and saying santé. Then you individually say cheers to everyone present before taking that first sip.
Smile for a reason
Smiling too much is not welcome in France. People usually maintain a resting face and only smile for specific reasons. The main reasoning behind it is that a smile is seen as a signal for something else. French citizens think it is weird when people randomly smile at them.