Customs and daily life

Daily life

• Language: French is the language of the administration and of almost all daily life. Outside big cities and tourist places, do not count on English. A few words of French, even clumsy, are always well received.
• Politeness: "Bonjour madame / monsieur" when entering, "Merci, au revoir" when leaving, including at the bakery and in small shops. Vous (formal "you") is the norm with strangers, shopkeepers and at work at first; you move to tu (informal "you") when the other person suggests it. Among close people, the bise (cheek kiss) is common, but not at a first professional meeting: a handshake is enough.
• Meals: lunch is often taken between 12:00 and 14:00, dinner around 19:30 or 20:00. Many restaurants close their kitchen between the two services.
• Shops and Sunday: Sunday is in principle a day of rest. Food shops can open on Sunday morning (until 13:00 for their employees), tourist areas longer, and the mayor can authorise up to 12 Sunday openings a year. Many small shops also close on Monday: check the hours.
• Restaurant: displayed prices include taxes and service. Tipping is therefore not compulsory; leaving a few euros for good service remains an appreciated gesture. Tap water is served free on request.
• Administration and appointments: many procedures are done online or by appointment. Keep copies of everything (proof of address, RIB (bank details), civil status certificates): you will often be asked for them. At a professional appointment, be on time; for a dinner at friends' houses, a few minutes' lateness is common.
• Work: the legal working week is 35 hours and an employee earns 5 weeks of paid leave a year (2.5 working days per month). Many French people take their leave in summer: in August, some companies and administrations slow down.

Public holidays

• The 11 national public holidays: 1 January, Easter Monday, 1 May, 8 May, Ascension, Whit Monday, 14 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December.
• Only 1 May is compulsorily a non-working day for all employees (except exceptions such as hospitals and transport). For the others, it depends on the collective agreement or the employer.
• Alsace-Moselle: two more days, Good Friday (in some municipalities) and 26 December.
• Overseas territories: each département commemorates the abolition of slavery on its own date (for example 27 May in Guadeloupe, 20 December in La Réunion).
• Bridge days (ponts): when a public holiday falls on a Thursday, many people take the Friday. It is not a right: the employer or an agreement decides.

Emergency numbers

• 112: European emergency number, it directs you to the right service.
• 15: Samu (medical emergency).
• 17: police or gendarmerie.
• 18: fire brigade.
• 114: emergencies for deaf or hard-of-hearing people (SMS, video, chat).
• 115: Samu social (homeless people).
• 119: children in danger.
• 196: sea rescue.
• 3919: Violences Femmes Info (listening line, not emergencies); 3114: suicide prevention, 24 hours a day.

Common pitfalls

• Entering a shop without saying bonjour. It is the most cited mistake: it can chill the whole exchange.
• Using tu too quickly with an older colleague, a customer or an administrative officer.
• Planning shopping on Sunday afternoon or on a public holiday: many shops are closed.
• Expecting a quick reply in August. Administrative and professional deadlines often lengthen during the summer holidays.
• Corsica and overseas territories: daily life, hours and local public holidays differ in part there; find out on the spot.

The customs described here (politeness, meal times, bise, tipping) are common habits, not official rules: they vary by region and by person.