French Language Guide (2): French Culture
Monday, 2nd June 2008
A look at French culture in France and other Francophone countries worldwide: food, drink, sport, fashion, art, music, reading and more.
When asked what they associate with French culture, many people would mention food and wine, and both play an important role in France and other Francophone countries. The French have a real love of food and spend plenty of time preparing, cooking and eating it. Since the idea of the modern restaurant was invented in France during the 18th century, French cuisine has become world-famous and French restaurants can be found in many parts of the world.
The most important meals in France are usually lunch (le déjeuner) and dinner (le dîner), which can typically last for several hours, though one-hour lunch breaks have become more common, at least in cities and large towns. Breakfast (le petit déjeuner) is normally a small meal consisting of croissants or other pastries and large bowls of coffee or hot chocolate. The different regions of France and other Francophone countries have their own specialities based on ingredients available locally and in season. One type of food that is particularly popular is cheese, of which there are over 400 types and which is consumed more by the French than in any other country.
Wine has been produced in France for over two millennia and France is now one of the world’s leading producers of wine. The French themselves consume a large proportion of the wine they produce, though wine consumption has dropped significantly during the past 40 years.
Sport is popular in France, especially football (le foot), which is the most-watched sport. Rugby, cycling, tennis and sailing are also popular. The modern Olympics were also founded in France in 1894, inspired by the Cotswold Olympick Games, which have been held in the English town of Chipping Campden since 1610. One French sport that has become popular in England is Pétanque, which originated in Provence in southern France and is still mainly played there. The name Pétanque comes from the phrase Les Ped Tanco (feet together) in the Provençal dialect of the Occitan.
France is well known for its dominance in the world high fashion (couture / haute couture) and Paris is sometimes called “the fashion capital of the world”. Since the 1960s French designers have been concentrating on the mass production and marketing of more everyday fashions, a trend started by Yves Saint Laurent.
Arts, music and literature play important roles in French culture. Reading is a popular pastime, even among the young, though they increasingly prefer music, television and sport. Popular types of literature include novels, non-fiction essays and books on current affairs. Newspapers, magazines, comic books and graphic novels are also widely read.
Other Francophone countries share some aspects of French culture, including the French language and a love of food. As there are more than 50 such countries in Africa, North and South America, Asia and Oceania, it is difficult to generalise about their cultures. Some aspects of their cultures have been imported to France, including music and food from north Africa.
Tags: language, france, culture, french, guide
Posted by Simon Ager 2008-06 under Language guides,
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