FRENCH PROJECT Paper

Running head: FRANCE 1
France
Jessica Bockus, Sara DeFeo,Colleen Reilly, and Gina Leymeister
Alvernia University

Abstract
France is one of the world’s largest economic powers and is noted world wide for having the
most delicious and tastefully wine in the world. France has a very long Celtic history, which ties
into its current cultural fusion of several biological variations. The country attracts millions of
foreign tourists each year. Furthermore, France is a fashion forward country, and is constantly
keeping up to par with the fashion industry.
Keywords: France, world, country, French

France
Introduction
The group selected to talk about the French culture. Considering no members of this
group have been to this country it is very intriguing how this culture is different from the typical
American culture. Within this culture group there are many aspects that the group would like to
gain a further understanding on and become more culturally competent. In this paper the topics
being discussed about France are the history, biological variations, food preferences, traditions,
education and religious beliefs, concept of time, communication, space aspects, environmental
concerns, social organizations, barriers, and health care beliefs.
History
In ancient times France was originally part of the Celtic territory, otherwise known as
Gaul or Gallia. Its current name came from the Latin “Francia”, which is translated to “country
of the Franks”. This was named at the time of the fall of the Western Roman Empire during the
5th century, and finally becoming its own country in the 9th century. Currently France is an
independent nation in Europe and is the third largest European nation (Discover France, 1999).
Its capital is currently Paris. The Current President is François Hollande and he has been in
office since 2012.

The French national flag is made up of three vertical bands of blue, white, and red.
Throughout the past 200 years the flag has been altered many times. However, the current design
was established as the official flag of the France Republic under the 1946 and 1958 constitutions
(France in the United States, 2012). In today’s society the French flag can be seen on all
buildings, and usually serves as a backdrop when then President addresses the public. The
national motto of France is liberté, egalité, fraternité. This is translated to Liberty, Equality or
Death. This motto first appeared during the French Revolution. The motto was written into the
1958 Constitution and was finally established under the Third Republic (France in the United
States, 2012).
Geography
The current population was recorded in 2014 which estimated that 64.6 million people
currently reside in France. The three largest cities in France are Paris which holds a population of
2.2 million, Marseille which holds a population of 853,000, and Lyon which holds a population
of 484,000 (World Population Review, 2014).
The shape of France is often called “L’hexagone” because of its six-sided shape. France
is located to the northeast of Belgium, to the east of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, to the
south of the Mediterranean, to the southwest of Spain and Andorra. France has a usual climate
with hot summers and cool winters. The south of France maintains a pleasurable temperature
through spring and autumn. The northeast of France have warm summers and cold winters with
adequate rainfall and snow. The Atlantic influences the climate of western regions where the
temperature is relatively mild. (World Travel Guide, 2015). As for the area, central, north and
western France are covered by a relatively flat plain. Mountain regions dominate the eastern and
south of France. This includes the Alps which are stretched along its border with Italy. The

countries highest point is located here on Mont Blanc at 15,770 ft. (World Atlas, 2010). Further
north you will experience heavily forested mountains along the Rhine River valley. There are
also volcanic regions and many rivers that reside in France. (World Atlas, 2010).
Biological Variations
The French cultural is a fusion of Celtic, German, Latin, and Slavic. The immigrants have
blended into the French society, therefore, a true origin is difficult to determine. When a person
thinks of an individual native to France, one’s first impression is to think of brown eyes, brown
hair, and olive colored skin. However, their biological characteristics are predominately very tall
in height, blonde or brunette hair, and very scrawny. These characteristics are likely to change
depending upon the area of the country that one is touring or visiting (World Travel Guide).
Food
Food is a big deal in France and they have always been proud of their way of cooking.
Fertile soil in France provides fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, and meat, nearly year-round.
The soil is also suitable for growing grapes, which are used for making some of the finest wines
in the world, which France is known for. Since the French appreciate their foods so much, the
presentation is just as important as the taste. Some foods that are important in France are: the
kumquat fruit, escargots (snails), the baguette, a long, thin loaf of crusty bread, crêpes (thin
pancakes, and mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, and squid. There are four courses are typically
served: salad, main dish with meat, cheese with bread, and dessert. With every meal there is

bread and water. Also, several bottles of wine may be served with the meal. When it comes to
restaurants in France, they are more formal than what people are used to in the United States.
When eating out at a restaurant, it is expected that all food is eaten at one sitting, leftovers are
looked down upon. The diet of the French people is generally considered healthy. In France,
there have been protests at some fast food restaurants to try to get rid of them to help maintain
the traditional quality of French food and the French lifestyle.
Education
School is very important in the French society. A child will start school at age 2. The
compulsory school for children between six and sixteen. The compulsory school covers
education from elementary school until the first four years of college. After graduating, one has
the option of continuing onto secondary schooling. Most schools are public school, but there are
also some private schools. The private schools are located on the Western and Eastern side of the
country. The parents are able to decide which school that their child will be attending for that
school period. Over 90 percent of children leave school with an education qualification,
including 62 percent with a baccalaureate level of education (World Travel Guide).
Religion
The French society believes that religion is very private and rejects any communities
based on religious practice. However, religious freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution and
protected by the Republic. Unlike the USA, the French churches receive no money from the
state. The most predominant religion is Roman Catholic. However, Protestant, Judaism, and
Islamic religions are practiced by some individuals in the French cultural. Recently, secularism

(laicite) is a big discussion for Muslims currently living in France. France believes in separation
of church and state. The Muslims want to wear their head and dress attire, and France’s
government does not believe in individual religious based communities (World Travel Guide).
Holidays and Celebrations
Bastille Day- July 14th (every year)
Bastille on 14th July 1789, Bastille Day takes place on the same date each year. The main event
is a grand military parade along the Champs-Élysées, attended by the President of the Republic
and other political leaders. It is accompanied by fireworks and publics dances in towns
throughout the whole of France
Fete du Travail – May 1st
Since 1947, the Fête du Travail, on 1st May, has been a paid public holiday in France. It is a
legal requirement that on this day, all employees are entitled to a paid holiday. Traditionally a
day on which trade unions protest in large cities, it is also la fête du muguet (Lily-of-the-Valley
Day), on which it is customary to exchange lily-of-the-valley flowers for good luck.
They celebrate Christmas and Easter like we do.
Time
Time is different in each part of France. If one is in Paris, most people are on punctual.
For example, if a person is invited to a party, one is expected to be on time. If one arrives more

than ten minutes late, an explanation for the late arrival is necessary to the host. The further
south one travels in the country, one will find time to be more flexible.
Communication
The dominant language in France is French. Among the general population 88 percent of
persons speak French. However, Celtic, Breton, and Arabic are also dominant languages spoken
throughout the country.
When greeting another person in France a handshake is the most common gesture.
Depending on the comfort level established a kiss on the right and left cheek are also acceptable
greeting gestures. However, addressing another person by their first name is only allowed by
close friends or family. Therefore, the use of Sir, Madam, Monsieur, and Mademoiselle are
preferred.
Environment
Water pollution is a serious problem in France due to the accumulation of industrial
contaminants, agricultural nitrates, and waste from the nation's cities.
France has 10 national parks (Calanques near Marseille, Cévennes in Central Mountains,
Ecrins-the most visited one-, Vanoise and Mercantour in the Alps, Guadeloupe, Guyane and
Reunion in overseas territories, Port-Cros on the Mediterranean Sea, Pyrénées at the Spanish
border) and 50 regional parks, covering altogether 15% of the country, quite a sizeable
proportion.
Hunting is a big issue in France. The number of hunters is close to 2 million and they are
very attached to the right to hunt. This goes back to the French Revolution which abolished the

exclusive right of nobility to hunt and now hunters can hunt on any private property. They even
have their own political party. Ecologist movements of course support the European restriction to
hunting endangered species and hunting migrating birds on their way back to Europe. But the
European regulation is constantly challenged by French hunters who consider the ecologists their
worst enemies.
Social Organization
Family is very important in the French cultural. Each member of the family has certain
duties and responsibilities to fulfill for the family. The parents are look upon as the guardians
and are a very important role in a child’s life. The extended family is there for emotional and
financial support. Families tend to have few children. However, holidays are a very big time for
French family cultural. The holidays are a formal sit down meal and can last anywhere between
five and six hours.
Economics
France is one of the world’s largest economic powers. Agricultural plays a key role in the
economy. The most important crops are wheat, barely, potatoes, corn, and sugar beets. France is
noted for having the finest wine and cheese in the world. The widely known vineyards are in
Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhone and Loire Valley. France’s leading industries produce
machinery, food, automobiles, and textiles (Recent Books and Dissertations on French History).
Politics/Taxes

Taxes:
Taxes are a big thing in France and mostly everything in France is taxed. Taxation is
determined by the French Parliament, which determines the kind of tax. There is a strong trend
toward generalizing precise taxes to finance the elimination of potentially polluting products.
Taxes in France are distributed by the government but then are also collected by public
administrations such as the central government, local government, and social security
association.
Career/ Work Habits
The average French person works about 39 hours per week and 1,902 hours per year.
However, on the farmland, the work hours will vary depending on the jobs that need to be done
for the day. Unlike the stereotype, French persons are very productive. The French society work
less hours than the American culture and achieve a greater capita than the US.
Values/Beliefs
Fashion is a big deal in France along with art. Very proud of their country and they are
typically offended when people say negative comments towards their country or their
government.
Chauvinism- meaning an attitude those members of your own gender are always better
than those of the opposite sex, or a belief that your country, race, etc is better than any others.
Women are seen to the play the family life role and business and many still see men as dominant
gender. They embrace romance and passion, and they are open to the idea of sex outside of
marriage. They believe in egalite which means equality and is part of the country’s motto:

Librerte, Egalite, Fraternite. Many say they place a higher important on equality than liberty and
fraternity, the other two words in the motto.
Currency
The currency used in France is the Euro. 1 Euro equals 1.07 of the US dollar. The value
of the US dollar has gone down drastically over the last 5 years.
Landmarks
The top landmark in France is the Eiffel Tower. However, there are many more sites to
see while staying in the country of France. Arc De Triomphe is very close to the Eiffel Tower
and it stands as a memorial for those who fought for France and who have passed away. A more
scenic view is captured from Mont Blac, which is within the French Alps.
Tourism
France is most famous for its wine and cheeses. This beautiful country attracts 82 million
foreign tourists annually. The most common place for tourists to travel is the Eiffel Tower. The
Eiffel Tower is the most paid tourist attraction in the world. However, one may also travel to
Palace of Versailles, Love Lock Bridge or to Mont Saint- Michel. France has a gorgeous rich
country-side, but also a fast city life. The people of France are very welcoming and friendly to
visitors of the country.
Barriers
One of the huge barriers from America to France is the language. In France, the language
that is their first choice is French. In the terrorist areas of France, many people can speak more
than one language so the people could talk to you. As many places that you can travel too, that

culture would like you to learn some phrases of their language. If you talk to people that go to
France you could hear many different reactions to how the French react to Americans.
Apparently French aren’t very approachable and very rude to other cultures. Another barrier that
can affect you is if you have a gluten free diet. Bread is a huge part of the French culture. If you
going to be a host a gathering over in France don’t ask your guest to bring food. Compare to here
in America many people bring snacks or desserts to house gathering. Leaning the culture you
traveling too can be a big part and release the barriers between the cultures.
Health Care
“The health system in France is dominated by solo-based, fee-for-service private practice
for ambulatory care and public hospital for acute institutional care, among which patients are
free to navigate and be reimbursed under NHI.” (The Health Care) You can compare NHI in
France to the United States Medicare. NHI provides better access for the people in France but
there are no deductibles and medicine benefits compared to Medicare gives us here in the United
States.
A home remedy in France that they have is called a Melissa water. With in this drink it
hold many different spices, sage, coriander, angelica, and yellow gentian and distill in alcohol.
This helps with stomach aches, shocks and nerves. Hay fever in France is when you have
seasonal allergies. How you can you treat it is to is with herbs like ginger, green tea and
grapefruit. Also you can use a steaming technique that gets rid of congestion
Conclusion
In conclusion, France is very powerful country that attracts many tourists each year with
the various landmarks that are beautiful. Besides the beautiful aspect of the country, France has

acquired a true taste for cooking and for the elegant wine that is served all throughout the
country.
References
Discover France. (1999). History of France. Retrieved from
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/History/DF_history.shtml
Dos & Donts ; etiquette in France ; manners ; expats. Retrieved from
http://www.understandfrance.org/French/Dos&Donts.htm
Food in Every Country. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.foodbycountry.com/Algeria-
to-France/France.htm
France in the United States. (2012, April). Symbols of the French Republic. Retrieved from
http://www.ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article3437
Herbal Remedy from France - Eau de Melisse des Carmes Boyer | Wandering France Blog.
Retrieved from http://www.wanderingfrance.com/blog/articles/24/herbal-remedy-from-
france-eau-de-melisse-des-carmes-boyer
The Health Care System Under French National Health Insurance: Lessons for Health Reform in
the United States. Retrieved fromttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447687/
Recent Books and Dissertations on French History. (2006). French Historical Studies, 29(4),
685-694.

World Atlas. (2010). France map. Retrieved from
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/fr.htm
World Population Review. (2014). France population 2014. Retrieved from
http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/france-population/
World Travel Guide. (2015). France weather, climate and geography. Retrieved from
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/france/weather-climate-geography

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