Social Customs In France!
There are many countries in this world, each and every one of them containing their own special social customs. The French especially, have their very own way when it comes to their very own social customs.
Greetings in France
In France, they greet people with high amount of formalities. When introduced, they start off by greeting them, example, "Good day sir." That greeting is then accompanied by a handshake, containing a single pump. In workplaces such as offices, the handshake is given to everyone upon arrival or departure. Greetings such as "Hi." or "Hello." are only given to close friends showing the amount of formalities in their culture.
Kisses in France
The French are very generous with kisses, but only to people they know. It isn't wise to kiss a stranger on their cheeks, but with the exception of children which are expected to be kissed upon introduction. If a woman is expecting a kiss, she would offer her cheeks. Women are seen to kiss both genders on the cheek, but as for men, they do not kiss with another with the same gender. The numbers of kisses given is depending on which part of France are you in. Kisses are given as a greeting and also upon departure. It is also a must to give everyone you can see a kiss on the cheek, no matter the gender, on New Year's Eve.
Gifts in France
An invitation to dinner from a French person is a good sign as it shows you
have been accepted into the community. Small presents are expected to be brought such as flowers and chocolates. Foreign food and drinks aren't acceptable gifts to give, no matter how good the quality is, unless it is highly valuable in France such as whiskey. Some say that bringing wine isn't a wise decision as it implies that the person that invited you does not know how to choose a decent wine. As for flowers, you must be also choose the correct type of flower for the occasion as different flowers represent different meanings.Dining in France
Dining in France is also very particular. Drinks shall not be served unless all guests have arrived, even if the guests are late. Drinks should not be self-poured when invited to dinner with the exception of water. When consuming alcohol, it is a wise decision to take in consideration on how much to drink as it is impolite to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Before digging in, the French would say
bon appétit, and you shouldn't start eating until the host does. It is also counted polite to finish off everything on the plate as it shows no wastage.Conversations in France
The French loves detailed and interesting conversations, but there are also sensitive topics that should be avoided. The topic about money is highly avoided by the French. Asking someone you recently met about their job position is not a wise idea as it will give an indication on one's income. Food and drinks are the most common topics discussed among the French. The French do not raise their voice when talking to a person as it represents vulgarity. When conversing, the French tend to stand close, this may make you feel a little uncomfortable.
Gestures in France
The French and the Italians have very much in common in this particular area as they tend to talk with their hands, often more than they would with their mouth. This area may be hard to cover as it is quite complicated but there are a few tips that could be helpful. Pointing with the index finger is considered rude and should not be used. The way they count is also different as they use the thumb to count "one" as opposed to using the index finger. Rubbing your knuckle against your cheek shows a sign of boredom, shaking your hand up and down shows surprise, and tapping someone on their forearm on the opposite hand with your finger while raising your forearm shows that you are about to leave or leaving, but usually this gesture is only used when you're leaving out of boredom.
Dress codes in France
As you can see the French is mostly based on formalities, but as for the dress codes it is different. Even in work places, the dress code is extremely casual. Although, the French tend to judge people by the way they look, such as the style of dressing, the quality of the clothes, and how suitable it is for the occasion.