This is the continuation of our article on France, where we started by discovering the characteristics of France’s culture and if you’ve haven’t read it yet, you can do it here. Today, we will continue by uncovering the customs and traditions of this wonderful country. Enjoy!

The French Greeting

One of the customs of French culture that usually catches the attention of those visiting this country for the first time is the greeting. What is the correct way to greet a French person without looking like an uneducated person or without being disrespectful? It is very simple! The first thing to know is that friends and family greet each other with “bonjour” or “salut” and kiss on the cheeks. The number of kisses varies from two to four.
If you are getting to know the person, you usually give a firm handshake. If you don’t know a person, you should refer to them by their professional title or, alternatively, by sir, madam and miss. Similarly, the more respectful “you” form is used when addressing elders or strangers.

The 14th of July Celebration

The 14th of July celebration is a cultural heritage of France. On this solemn day, the storming of the Bastille, symbolizing the end of the monarchy, has been celebrated for over a century. The French are often filled with jubilation and patriotism. On this day, locals and tourists alike flock to places like the Champs de Mars and the Pont Alexandre III to watch the fireworks.
Similarly, military demonstrations are organized in all French municipalities. However, the most outstanding is the military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Every July 14, popular balls representative of the culture of this country are also organized in each city and village of France.

Restaurant Hours

Restaurant hours in France are generally not consecutive. This means that you can’t go out to eat at any time you want, but you should make sure that the food outlets are open and serving the public. Obviously, restaurants that are close to tourist sites usually have their doors open all day, but this is not the usual thing.
In this sense, the working hours of the restaurants are generally as follows: they open from 11:00 to 15:00 or 16:00 and reopen from 20:00 to 23:00.
As far as eating hours are concerned, there is also a peculiarity that you should keep in mind during your stay in this beautiful country:
– Breakfast hours in France are very flexible, restaurants are open very early, and brunch is also common.
– Lunch hours are from 12:00 to 2:00.
– For dinner, the tradition is to eat between 20:00 and 22:00.
So before you go to a restaurant in France, check the hours on their websites and, if possible, make the corresponding reservation in advance.

Heritage Day

On the third weekend of September, you can take the opportunity to learn more about the culture of France! Indeed, all public, state and private institutions open their doors for free. But beware! There are so many people who want to access these places of interest that the lines to get in are miles long, so be sure to make a reservation online.
The celebration of this day was started in 1984 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. There are usually guided tours, demonstrations of skills, concerts, theatrical performances, themed tours, among other events. You can visit monuments that are regularly open to the public and others that only open their doors exceptionally, such as some cottages and castles. This is an unmissable opportunity to see the greatest wonders of France, whether they are civil, military or religious!
Sounds nice right? When are you planning to visit France then? Let us know in the comments section below.
And if you want to continue to learn more, check out the 3rd part of our blog.