Opening the windows pour faire courant d'air – this is but one popular French custom. Today we are talking about French traditions and quirks so get ready to share your observations here in the comments!
une bizarrerie (bee-zahr-reuhr-ree)
: a quirk or peculiarity
FAVORITE FRENCH TRADITIONS OR CUSTOMS (or Quirks!)
Today, following the Favorite French Words post, we are sharing our Favorite French customs and traditions. From habits the French have while eating–to the way they go about greeting–we are sharing our observations here in the comments box.
What kinds of things do the French do that intrigue or inspire you? Seen anything quirky or funny or intimidating or bizarre?
Share a cultural curiosity you have seen with your own eyes–or share something you've heard about!
COMMENTS
Looking forward to reading YOUR observations about France and French customs. Click here to share something uniquely French.
Message to Jean-Marc. Bon anniversaire de mariage, chéri! Given today is our 20th wedding anniversary, I'll share a favorite French tradition: les dragées! You see these colorful sugar-coated almonds on wedding tables–each guest receives a handful of them–and at christenings. (Any celebration is a good excuse to enjoy them. You can order them here, at Amazon.)
Meantime, enjoying every moment with Dad while he is in France! Thanks to my belle-mère, Marsha, for this father-daughter snapshot taken in Cassis. Why the socks, Dad? Oh, I see: "Keeps the mosquitoes from biting!"… 🙂
Marsha and Dad also celebrated 20 years of marriage. Bon anniversaire de mariage!
And yesterday, September 23rd, was my Mom's 68th birthday. I shared this photo and this message with her on my Instagram:
Celebrating Mom's birthday today. Wish we could be together, dressed in brightly-colored swimsuits, lipstick smeared across our cheeks–daring, finally, to live exactly as we please. (Photo taken today in Sanary-Sur-Mer)
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The French never forgot their military of WW 1 & 2. Towns , villages & cities did not cover over wounds of war on buildings from bullet holes and placed names of locals on war memorials in prominent display. They remember the American help.
I like their love of dogs who can sit at the table at La Cournne in Rouen across from their master!
The French never forgot their military of WW 1 & 2. Towns , villages & cities did not cover over wounds of war on buildings from bullet holes and placed names of locals on war memorials in prominent display. They remember the American help.
I like their love of dogs who can sit at the table at La Cournne in Rouen across from their master!
Happy anniversary, Kristin and Jean-Marc, and Dad and Marsha! A belated Happy Birthday to Jules!
What I can never get right in France is how many times you kiss someone on the check – in Pau, it was three (or was it four) times, in Dijon, it was twice, what’s the rule and what are the regional dividing lines??
Happy anniversary, Kristin and Jean-Marc, and Dad and Marsha! A belated Happy Birthday to Jules!
What I can never get right in France is how many times you kiss someone on the check – in Pau, it was three (or was it four) times, in Dijon, it was twice, what’s the rule and what are the regional dividing lines??
Another is the sacoche – my son had to have one in France. After wearing it one day to school in the US, that thing never came out of his closet again.
Another is the sacoche – my son had to have one in France. After wearing it one day to school in the US, that thing never came out of his closet again.
I loved how well behaved the dogs were in Paris. I saw dogs walking down aisles in big department stores sans leash with their owners.
There are so many things, but one more is that the man selling bread in the bakery wouldn’t let me buy a loaf of bread after a certain time in the day. He said it was no longer fresh.
In America, grocery stores put the oldest fruits on the top and the fresh on the bottom. In Paris, the shopkeeper picked the freshest himself and handed them to me.
Love that place!
I loved how well behaved the dogs were in Paris. I saw dogs walking down aisles in big department stores sans leash with their owners.
There are so many things, but one more is that the man selling bread in the bakery wouldn’t let me buy a loaf of bread after a certain time in the day. He said it was no longer fresh.
In America, grocery stores put the oldest fruits on the top and the fresh on the bottom. In Paris, the shopkeeper picked the freshest himself and handed them to me.
Love that place!
Wishing you “Bon Anniversaire de Mariage” dear Kristin and Jean Marc! Today is also Shannon’s and Al’s 25th anniversaire … and .. grandson Sean’s 23rd birthday. Much to celebrate!
Favorite tradition: Kissing on the cheeks
Wishing you “Bon Anniversaire de Mariage” dear Kristin and Jean Marc! Today is also Shannon’s and Al’s 25th anniversaire … and .. grandson Sean’s 23rd birthday. Much to celebrate!
Favorite tradition: Kissing on the cheeks
Happy Birthday, Jules! I miss reading your comments. I hope you are well and busy painting beautiful scenes. Congratulations and best wishes to the two wedding anniversary couples!
French movies are wonderful … especially those of Jacques Tati. There is so much detail and comedy in his portrayal of Monsieur Hulot! They are old films but they are timeless. Amitiés à tous.
Happy Birthday, Jules! I miss reading your comments. I hope you are well and busy painting beautiful scenes. Congratulations and best wishes to the two wedding anniversary couples!
French movies are wonderful … especially those of Jacques Tati. There is so much detail and comedy in his portrayal of Monsieur Hulot! They are old films but they are timeless. Amitiés à tous.
Happy Anniversary to all!! I love French movies. My favorite is: Un Conte de Noel — A Christmas Tale. It is the typical American dysfunctional family — only French! Watch it without the subtitles. My 2 favorite French actors : Catherine Deneuve & Matheu Amalric as mother & son: Priceless.
Have fun with your family! Be well.
Happy Anniversary to all!! I love French movies. My favorite is: Un Conte de Noel — A Christmas Tale. It is the typical American dysfunctional family — only French! Watch it without the subtitles. My 2 favorite French actors : Catherine Deneuve & Matheu Amalric as mother & son: Priceless.
Have fun with your family! Be well.
Food rituals . . . watching a burly truck driver neatly and daintily cut his 3 or 4 choices of cheese from the communal platter; eating asparagus and frog legs with abandon with one’s fingers, but ALWAYS eating pizza and fried chicken with a knife and fork. And yes, Randy, the Sunday promenade (12 years in port of Roanne!)
Food rituals . . . watching a burly truck driver neatly and daintily cut his 3 or 4 choices of cheese from the communal platter; eating asparagus and frog legs with abandon with one’s fingers, but ALWAYS eating pizza and fried chicken with a knife and fork. And yes, Randy, the Sunday promenade (12 years in port of Roanne!)
Handing out muguet on May 1st. My daughter’s friends came to my house to bring me sprigs of this lovely flower during our sabbatical year in France. What a sweet surprise!!
Handing out muguet on May 1st. My daughter’s friends came to my house to bring me sprigs of this lovely flower during our sabbatical year in France. What a sweet surprise!!
The sugar cubes at cafes wrapped in paper with pretty designs on the wrapper. Thanks for the bisous link from earlier commenter. French friend coming to visit, now I know the appropriate number of cheek kisses.
The sugar cubes at cafes wrapped in paper with pretty designs on the wrapper. Thanks for the bisous link from earlier commenter. French friend coming to visit, now I know the appropriate number of cheek kisses.
I was told that women NEVER pour the wine at gatherings or at table in a restaurant. It is always the man’s job….
hmmm. Interesting. But I sort of love it that my honey pours my wine, sort of sexy.
Also I love it that if you see a friend you know talking to someone, even if it is someone you know, too, it is best just to say bonjour and move on–do not interrupt their conversation. I love that because it’s a politeness that we Americans do not honor much.
I was told that women NEVER pour the wine at gatherings or at table in a restaurant. It is always the man’s job….
hmmm. Interesting. But I sort of love it that my honey pours my wine, sort of sexy.
Also I love it that if you see a friend you know talking to someone, even if it is someone you know, too, it is best just to say bonjour and move on–do not interrupt their conversation. I love that because it’s a politeness that we Americans do not honor much.
My homesickness triggers are peppered in these posts!
Definitely miss a real window without the fly-screen…. leaning over and chatting with a neighbour.
Always un pincement de coeur on first of May, le temps du muguet.
Lilacs in full bloom..
Escargots à la charette in Brussels streets. Gaufres de Liège.
Les bisous, naturellement.
Lastly, défense de marcher sur le gazon!
My homesickness triggers are peppered in these posts!
Definitely miss a real window without the fly-screen…. leaning over and chatting with a neighbour.
Always un pincement de coeur on first of May, le temps du muguet.
Lilacs in full bloom..
Escargots à la charette in Brussels streets. Gaufres de Liège.
Les bisous, naturellement.
Lastly, défense de marcher sur le gazon!
Just went to a wedding reception here in California and there were dragées in little white boxes at each person’s place setting. Here in the U.S. we call them “Jordan almonds”. Why “Jordan”? Je ne sais pas!
A French custom I’d like to change because I love “café au lait” any time of the day is the custom of only having it for breakfast.
Just went to a wedding reception here in California and there were dragées in little white boxes at each person’s place setting. Here in the U.S. we call them “Jordan almonds”. Why “Jordan”? Je ne sais pas!
A French custom I’d like to change because I love “café au lait” any time of the day is the custom of only having it for breakfast.
Bon anniversaire, Kristin et Jean-Marc! And thank you for the lovely photos and humorous and genuine stories of your life in France. My husband and I are now in Sancerre while I attend French classes at Coeur de France. I’m loving the melodic French of the locals, how friendly the boulanger and other shopkeepers can be when you greet them with “Bonjour, monsieur/madame!” And how they do keep saying “Bonne journée” and “vous aussi” over and over. Each day I feel more at home. I just hope my French improves!
Bon anniversaire, Kristin et Jean-Marc! And thank you for the lovely photos and humorous and genuine stories of your life in France. My husband and I are now in Sancerre while I attend French classes at Coeur de France. I’m loving the melodic French of the locals, how friendly the boulanger and other shopkeepers can be when you greet them with “Bonjour, monsieur/madame!” And how they do keep saying “Bonne journée” and “vous aussi” over and over. Each day I feel more at home. I just hope my French improves!
My mouth waters at the memory of the fantastic displays of cheese – what to choose! And of course the fabulous pates and baguettes and where else do you have your gateaux and patisseries presented in a pretty box?
So many delightful memories of a beautiful country!
Love your photography and your stories Kristin..and your books, all three.
Best wishes and Bon anniversaire to you and John-Marc.
Heather..Australia
My mouth waters at the memory of the fantastic displays of cheese – what to choose! And of course the fabulous pates and baguettes and where else do you have your gateaux and patisseries presented in a pretty box?
So many delightful memories of a beautiful country!
Love your photography and your stories Kristin..and your books, all three.
Best wishes and Bon anniversaire to you and John-Marc.
Heather..Australia
Bon anniversaires à tous.
The good: Bonjour/bonjournée entering and leaving shops. Real service at small shops. Vendors at the markets always offering a taste or adding a little something extra to the order. Well behaved dogs welcomed almost anywhere. Many more but these are a start.
The bad: Smoking smoking smoking. Eating pizza with forks. Not being able to order pizza ingredients à la carte. Not picking up after those well-behaved dogs. Tail-gating drivers in Paris. Transportation strikes at the drop of a hat (since we don’t have a car in our city, we are often inconvenienced by them and never feel secure we’ll be able to take the train to CDG airport at the appointed time to leave).
Bon anniversaires à tous.
The good: Bonjour/bonjournée entering and leaving shops. Real service at small shops. Vendors at the markets always offering a taste or adding a little something extra to the order. Well behaved dogs welcomed almost anywhere. Many more but these are a start.
The bad: Smoking smoking smoking. Eating pizza with forks. Not being able to order pizza ingredients à la carte. Not picking up after those well-behaved dogs. Tail-gating drivers in Paris. Transportation strikes at the drop of a hat (since we don’t have a car in our city, we are often inconvenienced by them and never feel secure we’ll be able to take the train to CDG airport at the appointed time to leave).
So happy you are putting family first! Everyone needs a break and I love hearing about French customs. I’ve been to France several times and have read books on customs, but I’ve never lived there. I know that’s the only way to experience it all. My favorite thing about France and the French is the personal touch in everything: from greetings to goodbyes, entering and leaving shops,special wrapping when buying a gift. Politeness lives on. Vive la France! Kristin, this may seem “dark,” but I know nothing of funerals in France. Surely people must die there. I’ve googled it, looked in books of culture, etc. Some day maybe you can weave it into one of your unique musings. French Word-A-Day rocks!!
So happy you are putting family first! Everyone needs a break and I love hearing about French customs. I’ve been to France several times and have read books on customs, but I’ve never lived there. I know that’s the only way to experience it all. My favorite thing about France and the French is the personal touch in everything: from greetings to goodbyes, entering and leaving shops,special wrapping when buying a gift. Politeness lives on. Vive la France! Kristin, this may seem “dark,” but I know nothing of funerals in France. Surely people must die there. I’ve googled it, looked in books of culture, etc. Some day maybe you can weave it into one of your unique musings. French Word-A-Day rocks!!
I don’t know if this is actually a “custom,” but a fond memory I have is from a trip to Paris my husband and I made in the early 80’s. It was in the Winter; a very cold day – we were just walking out of a Metro station when a man with a portable waffle maker (attached with a strap round his neck) made a waffle for us right there on the street! It sure tasted good with sucre and confiture on the cold winter afternoon in Paris. Happy Anniversary to you both!
I don’t know if this is actually a “custom,” but a fond memory I have is from a trip to Paris my husband and I made in the early 80’s. It was in the Winter; a very cold day – we were just walking out of a Metro station when a man with a portable waffle maker (attached with a strap round his neck) made a waffle for us right there on the street! It sure tasted good with sucre and confiture on the cold winter afternoon in Paris. Happy Anniversary to you both!
Comforters over the window sills; “bah, oui” interjected in conversations; the ritual dance when sitting down for a meal at the restaurant or when guests are there for dinner, sorting out who will sit where; 2 signs, pointing in opposite directions, both saying “direction Paris”. Of course part of the fun for us were the non-cognates: obliterating or composting tickets, cars for grand “occasion” (used cars actually), among some of them. My friend loved the image that came from the roadside warning sign “Chutes de Pierres”, picturing a waterfall-like feature, with many Frenchmen called Pierre tumbling after one another.
Comforters over the window sills; “bah, oui” interjected in conversations; the ritual dance when sitting down for a meal at the restaurant or when guests are there for dinner, sorting out who will sit where; 2 signs, pointing in opposite directions, both saying “direction Paris”. Of course part of the fun for us were the non-cognates: obliterating or composting tickets, cars for grand “occasion” (used cars actually), among some of them. My friend loved the image that came from the roadside warning sign “Chutes de Pierres”, picturing a waterfall-like feature, with many Frenchmen called Pierre tumbling after one another.
Happy Anniversary Kristin and Jean-Marc!
One of my favorite, because it is something I will never completely understand, is the need to iron! All my French friends iron everything, yes clothes, but also kitchen towels, sheets, etc. I have one friend who confided in me that his mother also irons underpants and socks!!!
What?!!
While I agree that clothes look better ironed, and ironed sheets are so soft, I just can’t be bothered for most things.
So, while I laugh at them, my friends are laughing right back – at me.
Happy Anniversary Kristin and Jean-Marc!
One of my favorite, because it is something I will never completely understand, is the need to iron! All my French friends iron everything, yes clothes, but also kitchen towels, sheets, etc. I have one friend who confided in me that his mother also irons underpants and socks!!!
What?!!
While I agree that clothes look better ironed, and ironed sheets are so soft, I just can’t be bothered for most things.
So, while I laugh at them, my friends are laughing right back – at me.
We have just come back from 4 months in the Charante Maritime where we have just started running our own gites. Absolutely loved it. However, after eating dozens of bowls of moules, in our last week there we saw a family eating them by using the first moule shell to firstly pluck a mussel from its shell then pair it with a frite (chip) before popping it in the mouth. It made perfect sense! Why had we not known that before? We always make a mess of ourselves with the delicious sauce! 🙂 Can’t wait it next time we’re there.
We have just come back from 4 months in the Charante Maritime where we have just started running our own gites. Absolutely loved it. However, after eating dozens of bowls of moules, in our last week there we saw a family eating them by using the first moule shell to firstly pluck a mussel from its shell then pair it with a frite (chip) before popping it in the mouth. It made perfect sense! Why had we not known that before? We always make a mess of ourselves with the delicious sauce! 🙂 Can’t wait it next time we’re there.
I love long leisurely meals at restaurants, the care and thought put into food preparation at even the most humble establishment, stopping at small vineyards to taste wine, la politesse (bonjour, aurevoir, bonne journee, etc), the response when one says “j’ai une probleme” or when you are observed having a problem (so many people step up to help you!).
One strange custom: when french friends visited us at our holiday rental about ten years ago they would always reach into the pool and splash water on the back of their necks before jumping in. Finally we could resist no longer – “why?” we asked. They explained that it was to acclimate one’s body to the much cooler temperature of the water before submersion thus avoiding a potential stroke. We assured them that we never followed this practice (we are a family of competitive swimmers and live at pools) and are happy to report that none of us has ever suffered a stroke (so far).
I love long leisurely meals at restaurants, the care and thought put into food preparation at even the most humble establishment, stopping at small vineyards to taste wine, la politesse (bonjour, aurevoir, bonne journee, etc), the response when one says “j’ai une probleme” or when you are observed having a problem (so many people step up to help you!).
One strange custom: when french friends visited us at our holiday rental about ten years ago they would always reach into the pool and splash water on the back of their necks before jumping in. Finally we could resist no longer – “why?” we asked. They explained that it was to acclimate one’s body to the much cooler temperature of the water before submersion thus avoiding a potential stroke. We assured them that we never followed this practice (we are a family of competitive swimmers and live at pools) and are happy to report that none of us has ever suffered a stroke (so far).
I am in France, having spent nearly four weeks in the lovely town of Collobrieres, not far from Toulon and the Mediterranean! I too am studying French, but with a resident of the village who used to be a teacher. This is a wonderful way to improve your French and is much more personal! I have loved La Fete de la Chataignes (Festival of Chestnuts) held in this village every year on the first three Sundays in October! Tous les Mondes descends on this lovely village and there is much to see and experience! I also learned this week that when buying du pain, it is unlucky to lay the bread on its face or upside down on the counter. I never knew this and it was explained to me at length by several people at my local Patisserie just below my apartment. Do try the personal way of studying French with a local resident. I think many retired French teachers might welcome this opportunity. Cheryl Kellogg, St. Louis, MO
I am in France, having spent nearly four weeks in the lovely town of Collobrieres, not far from Toulon and the Mediterranean! I too am studying French, but with a resident of the village who used to be a teacher. This is a wonderful way to improve your French and is much more personal! I have loved La Fete de la Chataignes (Festival of Chestnuts) held in this village every year on the first three Sundays in October! Tous les Mondes descends on this lovely village and there is much to see and experience! I also learned this week that when buying du pain, it is unlucky to lay the bread on its face or upside down on the counter. I never knew this and it was explained to me at length by several people at my local Patisserie just below my apartment. Do try the personal way of studying French with a local resident. I think many retired French teachers might welcome this opportunity. Cheryl Kellogg, St. Louis, MO