French Cultural Notes
By Madeleine Cox
Shopping...
... in France, supermarkets are not as popular as small specialty stores. People may be attracted to the sales and convenience, but people are often drawn to the local shops for fresher and higher quality products.
Meals...
...Meals in France aren't constricted to just one course. Dinner and lunch usually have an appetizer a main entree, a a small green salad, cheese, and dessert. But the meals aren't constricted to just those courses either, a meal can have up to nine courses. an appetizer might be cold cuts of meat or soup or vegetables in a vinaigrette sauce. The main course will usually be seafood or some type of meat. The french eat a large variety of game like duck or other wild fowl, and things such as rabbit. you may be served a variety of vegetables or potatoes. For dessert they often have fresh fruit. Things like pastries or ice cream are usually only served at special occasions. The meal in the evening is usually smaller and often doesn't have meat. Eggs are eaten at dinner instead of breakfast.
More Meals...
In France sharing a meal can celebrate friendship or even a special occasion. On new years, dinner is often shared with friends. Christmas or birthday celebration dinners are usually spent with family, and people exchange gifts or cards. On their saints days, young people often also get small gifts.