What is it about the French that makes them so, well, quintessentially “French”? For me, I think of all the folks walking their dogs and buying their baguettes and taking two hour lunch breaks. And cigarettes, too.
Here’s a top ten list that I ran across elsewhere. And just so you know, we reproduce this list with the most amicable of intentions. =) Feel free to comment to let us know what comes to mind when you think about the French and we’ll see if we can confirm or deny it.
1. The Gallic shrug… and the accompanying raspberry!
That expressive twitch of the shoulders, shift of the head, opening of the palm, raising of the eyebrows and the inevitable, audible raspberry that follows. It means, in case you weren’t sure, “Je ne sais pas”… or to give a more meaningful translation, “I haven’t got the faintest idea and why on earth are you asking me that ridiculous question anyway?2. French eating habits – everything stops for lunch
Everything stops for lunch. Now I mean everything. The shops will close (except very large supermarkets and restaurants), all work will stop, not to begin again until around 2 o’clock. Or later, much later in the summer.3. The “scenic bathroom”
French men have absolutely no embarrassment about answering the call of nature in a public place. It matters not a jot who else may be in the vicinity, women, children or small animals, they make no attempt to hide what they are doing, indeed, many go a step further and face the road itself rather than turning discreetly away!4. French bureaucracy – paper, paper everywhere!
It’s official, France is drowning in a sea of paperwork. Yes, the dreaded bureaucracy is the next on the list of things that are quintessentially French. France LOVES paper. If, by any chance what you are trying to achieve is the simple purchase of a mobile phone, times the amount of paperwork and visits required by five.5. A nation of hunter gatherers
Their ability to eat the inedible…If at all possible, they won’t go to a shop at all, preferring to find their dinner under a bush or large pot in the garden, crawling, wriggling or growing in a dark corner.6. French food
Yes, the French are, justifiably famous for their food. What is really remarkable about the French and their food is that they talk about it all the time. The other remarkable thing about the French and their food is that they seem to have an enviable ability to indulge in all things fattening without actually getting very fat.7. French attitudes to money
The French do talk about money, but they certainly don’t brag about how much they earn, what their house is worth or any of the other accouterments of wealth.8. French manners
They have the most wonderful manners known to man. If you walk into a shop, a restaurant or bar in France, not only will the manager and his staff greet you with a polite “Bonjour” or “Bonsoir”, but also, probably, will all the other customers. There is, of course, all the kissing that goes on, too.9. Fêtes [Parties]
France is famous for its fêtes. All over France, at any time of year, whole towns and villages will be getting together to have a party. Fêtes can be anything from a small village meal, as above, to a massive week long affair complete with top bands, well known comedians and hundreds and thousands of people. Any excuse for a party will do.10. And a whole host of other thing
What is notable is that as far as dress, goes, anything goes. Adults in a group can be variously dressed in the last word in Parisian chic while their friends are happily scruffy in torn jeans and sweatshirts, and teens will blend the toughest Goths with nerds and trendies. The same rule applies to cars.
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