2. Culture De France
The culture of France and of the French people has
been shaped by geography, by profound historical
events, and by foreign and internal forces and
groups.
From the late 19th century, France has also played
an important role in cinema, fashion and cuisine. The
importance of French culture has waxed and waned
over the centuries, depending on its economic,
political Importance
3. Language
France counts many regional languages, some of them being
very different from standard French such as Breton and
regional languages are Roman, Occitan
Minister of Education announced the bilingual education
and bilingual teachers recruited in French public schools.
English is taught in schools as a second language.
For instance, there exists a system of subsidies and
preferential loans for supporting French cinema.
4. Religion
At the beginning of the 20th century, France was a largely
rural country with conservative Catholic mores, but in the
hundred years since then, the countryside has become
depopulated, and the population has largely become more
secular.
After Catholicism, Islam is the second largest faith in Fran
today, and the country has the largest Muslim population (
percentage) of any Western European country. This is a
result of immigration and permanent
family settlement in France, from the 1960s
5. Education
The French educational system is highly centralized,
organized, and ramified. It is divided into three different
stages
enseignement primaire - Primary Education
College andlycée- Secondary Education
l’université– Higher Education
6. Food and Alcohol
The French typically eat only a simple breakfast ("petit
déjeuner") which consists of coffee or tea, served
traditionally in a large handleless "bol" (bowl)
and bread or breakfast pastries (croissants).
Lunch ("déjeuner") and dinner ("dîner") are the main
meals of the day.
Formal four course meals consist of a starter course
("entrée"), a salad, a main course ("plat principal"), and
finally a cheese or dessert course. While French cuisine
is often associated with rich desserts, in most homes
dessert consists of only fruit or yogurt.
7. Sports and Hobbies
Le Foot (Football) is the most popular sport in France.
Other Popular sports played in France are rugby
union, cycling, tennis, handball, basketball and sailing
France is notable for holding the annual cycling race
“Tour de France” and the Tennis Grand Slam
Tournament the “French Open”
Other Sports :
24 Hours of Le Mans - The world's oldest sports car
race.
Kite Surfing
8. Fashion
Paris is the leading capital of fashion and
design. Along with Milan, London and
New York, Paris is center of a important
number of fashion shows. Some of the world's
biggest fashion houses (ex: Chanel) have their
headquarters in France.
9. Music
France boasts a wide variety of indigenous folk music,
as well as styles played by immigrants from
Africa, Latin America and Asia.
The Fête de la Musique was created in France (first
held in 1982), a music festival, which has since become
worldwide.
It takes place every June 21, on summer's day.
10. Holidays
The vacances de Noël (Christmas) - two weeks, ending after
New Years.
On May 1, Labour Day (La Fête du Travail) the French
give flowers of Lily of the Valley (Le Muguet) to one
another.
Candlemas (La Chandeleur) is celebrated with crêpes. The
popular saying is that if the cook can flip a crêpe
singlehandedly with a coin in the other hand, the family is
assured of prosperity throughout the coming year
