■French Society and Culture

■Cuisine

◇One of the great passions of the French people is food.

◇French cuisine is highly refined and entails careful preparation, attention to detail, and the use of fresh elements.

◇It is different depending on region and is heavily affected by what is grown locally.

◆ French Family Values

◇The family is one of the great stabilizing elements in French and each member has certain duties and responsibilities.

◇The extended family supplies both emotional and financial support.

◇In spite of their reputation as romantics, the French have a realistic attitude towards marriage.

◇There are few children in families, but parents treat their role as guardians and providers very seriously.

◆ Relationships—Public vs. Private

◇The French are private people and have different canons of behavior for people within their social circle and those who are not.

◇Although the French are usually courteous in all dealings, only with their close friends and family are they relaxed to be themselves.

◇Friendship involves a set of roles and duties, including being available should you be needed. Friendship needs frequent, if not daily, contact.

■Etiquette and Customs in France

◆ Meeting Etiquette

◇The common form of greeting is handshake.

◇The way that friends greet each other is to kiss lightly on the cheeks, once on the left cheek and once on the right cheek.

◇First names are kept specially for family and close friends. Do not use someone’s first name unless invited.

◇It is suggested that you say “bonjour” or “bonsoir” (good morning and good evening) with the honorific title Monsieur or Madame when entering a shop and “au revoir” (goodbye) when leaving.

◇If you live in an apartment building, it is courteous to greet your neighbors with the same appellation.

◆ Gift Giving Etiquette

◇Send flowers in odd numbers but not 13, which is a sign of bad luck.

◇Some older French maintain old-style taboos on receiving certain flowers: white lilies or chrysanthemums which are used at funerals; red carnations which are regarded as a symbol of bad will; any white flowers which are used at weddings.

◇Taboos about flowers are not generally adhered to by the young. When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of conservatism.

◇If you send wine, make sure it is of the highest quality you can afford. The French love their wines.

◇Gifts are usually opened when received.

◆ Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a French house for dinner:

◇Don’t be late. In no case, should you arrive more than 10 minutes later than invited without calling to explain you have been delayed.

◇The nearer you go to the south of the country, the more flexible time is.

◇If you are invited to a large dinner party, especially in Paris, give flowers the morning of the occasion so that they may be exhibited that evening.

◇Dress well. The French are fashionable and their version of casual is not as relaxed as in many Western countries.

◆ Table Manners

◇Table manners are Continental—hold the fork with the left hand and the knife with the right one while eating.

◇If there is a seating arrangement, you may be guided to a particular seat.

◇Begin eating after the hostess says “bon appetite”.

◇If you have not finished the meal, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork above the knife.

◇Do not put your elbows on the table, although your hands should be seen and not in your lap.

◇Eat up everything on your plate.

◇Do not use a knife and fork to cut salad. Fold the lettuce on to your fork.

◇Peel and slice fruit before eating it.

◇Keep your wineglass nearly full if you do not want more.

■Business Etiquette and Protocol in France

◆ Relationships and Communication

French business behavior stresses good manners and a degree of formality.

◇Mutual trust and respect is necessary to get things done.

◇Trust is gained through proper behavior.

◇It is very important to creating a wide network of close personal business alliances.

◇If you do not speak French, regret for not knowing their language may help develop a relationships.

◇You’d better learn a few key phrases, since it displays an interest in a long-standing relationship.

◇The way a French person communicates often depends on their social status, education level, and which part of the country they grew up.

◇In business, the French often appear quite direct because they are not worried about asking probing questions.

◇It is formal to communicate in writing. Secretaries often schedule meetings and may play the role of relaying information from your French business colleagues.

◆ Business Meeting Etiquette

◇Appointments should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.

◇Appointments may be made in writing or by telephone and, according to the level of the person you are meeting, are often dealt with by the secretary.

◇Do not try to schedule meetings during July or August, which is a common vacation time.

◇If you expect to be detained, telephone at once and give an explanation.

◇Meetings are intended for discussion, not for decision-making.

◇Do not make exaggerated claims, as the French dislike hyperbole.

◆ Business Negotiation

◇French business stresses politeness and a fair degree of formality.

◇Wait to be shown where to sit.

◇Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

◇Business is done slowly. You should have patience and not appear upset by the strict adherence to protocol.

◇French do not like confrontation, and try not to use high-pressure techniques. It can be counter-productive.

◇The French will carefully examine every detail of a proposal, no matter how minute.

◇Business is hierarchical. Decisions are usually reached at the top of the company.

◇The French often admire good debating skills that display an intellectual grasp of the situation and all the consequences.

◇Never try to be too friendly. The French usually separate their business and personal lives.

◇Discussions may be heated and intense.

◇Avoid high-pressure marketing strategies. The French are more willing to receive a low-key, logical presentation that demonstrates the advantages of a proposal in full.

◇When an agreement is reached, the French may demand it be formalized in an extremely exhaustive, precisely worded contract.

◆ Dress Etiquette

◇Business attire is unpretentious, elegant and fashionable.

◇It is better for men to wear dark-colored, conservative business suits for the first meeting. How you dress later largely depends upon the characteristics of the company with which you are doing business.

◇Either business suits or elegant dresses in soft colors are appropriate for women.

◇The French like the things that are greater in quality or excellence in life, so wear good quality accessories.

◆ Business Cards

◇Exchange business cards after the initial introductions without following formal ritual.

◇Have the other side of your business card printed in French. Although not necessary in business, it shows an attention to detail that will be admired.

◇Any advanced academic degrees are included on your business card.

◇French business cards are often a little larger than in many other countries.