General

The family is the social adhesive of the country and each member has certain duties and responsibilities. The extended family provides both emotional and financial support. Despite their reputation as romantics, the French have a practical approach towards marriage. Families have few children, but parents take their role as guardians and providers very seriously.

The French are private people and have different rules of behaviour for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite in all dealings, it is only with their close friends and family that they are free to be themselves. Friendship brings with it a set of roles and responsibilities, including being available should you be needed. Friendship involves frequent, if not daily, contact.

Meeting & Greeting

• The handshake is a common form of greeting.

• Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks, once on the left cheek and once on the right cheek.

• First names are reserved for family and close friends. Wait until invited before using someone's first name.

• You are expected to say 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' (good morning and good evening) with the honorific title Monsieur or Madame when entering a shop and 'au revoir' (good-bye) when leaving.

• If you live in an apartment building, it is polite to greet your neighbours with the same appellation.

Gift Giving Etiquette

• Flowers should be given in odd numbers but not 13, which is considered unlucky.

• Some older French retain old-style prohibitions against receiving certain flowers: White lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals; red carnations as they symbolize bad will; any white flowers as they are used at weddings.

• Prohibitions about flowers are not generally followed by the young. When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of conservatism.

• If you give wine, make sure it is of the highest quality you can afford. The French appreciate their wines.

• Gifts are usually opened when received.