Fast and Friendly French For Fun: A Beginners Guide to French

people

Welcome to our People Page. Do want to know more about the customs and "way of life" in France? Well... you're in the right place!

Life In The City...

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Paris is not only the capital, but also the largest city of France, with more than 8 million people living in its metropolitan area. With some of it's buildings dating back to 200 BC, Paris is known as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Parisians appreciate the history of Paris, and many prefer living in old apartment buildings rather than new ones.

While walking along a street in Paris, one is likely to see a street artist hard at work. Many Parisians have a favorite café which they visit daily. Here, one can order a hot croissant or pastry fresh from the oven. Visiting a café is a common pastime for all French people.

Along with the old, there are a great deal of new technological advances in Paris. One of these is the TGV (train à grande vitesse, or high speed train) which runs between Paris and Lyon. The Chunnel-an underwater highway connecting Paris and London- was recently completed, making the journey between France and England a good deal easier.

Life In The Country...

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About a fourth of France's population live in rural areas. Most farmers and their families live in single-family homes. While there are a few wealthy farmers, most have other sources of income to support their families. Traditionally, France has been an agricultural country, so the French respect farming and hunting. Some families farm just to take part in the beautiful French countryside.

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Holidays and Recreation

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Have you ever wondered what the French do on their national holiday? Imagine people dancing in the streets, watching parades, and setting off fireworks for 24 hours straight! Believe it or not, on Bastille Day, France's national holiday, people celebrate the capture of Bastille, a prison, during the reknown French Revolution of 1789. It all happens on July 14; the national parade through Paris and dancing until sunrise!

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Every summer, France holds the famous Tour de France, which is a bicycle race around most of the country. The contestants ride daily for more than a month, and end in Paris.

Other popular sports in France include skiing, ice skating, soccer, fishing, and tennis. Regions throughout France have their own soccer team, since "du football"-the French way of saying soccer-is the most popular team sport. For relaxation, most French families enjoy playing, swimming, or just sitting on the beach.