FRENCH PROJECT Paper

Running head: FRANCE 1

France

Jessica Bockus, Sara DeFeo, Colleen Reilly, and Gina Leymeister

Alvernia University

Running head: FRANCE

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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:

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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

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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

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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.

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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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