French customs regarding punctuality, greetings, language, gifts, food, business, and family are outlined. When invited to a social gathering, it is customary to arrive 15-20 minutes late. Handshakes are a common greeting and parting gesture, while friends and family greet with three kisses starting with the left cheek. The French appreciate when visitors attempt to speak French. When invited to a home, it is polite to bring a small gift like flowers, pastries, wine or a toy. Meals are meant for enjoying conversation and company, not snacking beforehand. Proper dress and presentation are valued in business settings. While family ties remain important, modern life brings smaller families and children leaving home after school.

2. PUNCTUALITY
• It is usual among the French
arrive at a social gathering last
15 or 20 minutes of the
agreed time. Which is not
frowned upon, but greater
than these delays.

3. GREETINGS
• Among the French is a custom
greeting and saying goodbye
with a handshake, which should
not be strong because it would
be considered a lack of respect.
• It is also common to greet with 3
kisses between friends and
family. You have to start with the
left cheek if you do not want to
create confusion, no mistake!.

4. LANGUAGE
• It is a custom for the French
not to answer when one
speaks to them in another
language since they appreciate
more when a visitor tries to
speak its language to weigh
that it does not do it correctly.

5. PRESENTS
• When we have been invited to
a House, we must bring some
little detail: depending on the
occasion it can be flowers, a
few cupcakes, a toy for the
child or a bottle of wine.

6. FOOD
• Do not take snacks or meals
before lunch or dinner, they
think that spoils the flavor of the
main foods. They like to chat on
the table. At the end they take a
coffee, drink and if the occasion
deserves it, a cigarette.
• It is very important to
congratulate to the cook, which
is a source of pride.

7. BUSINESS
• It is valued a lot dressing well
and with style; wear costumes
with a bad haircut, shoes or
socks inappropriate, etc., will
create an image of little
professionalism. In the business
they are pretty serious: want to
see data, figures and reports and
discuss them before taking hasty
decisions.

8. FAMILY
• France is a country where
family ties are still strong but
with some changes, which has
brought modern life as the
fact of smaller families, whose
children leave the parental
home as soon as they finish
school.