French Culture

The French settlement of Quebec was a major turning point in the expansion of France's growing international empire, as it became the nation's first North American colony. The first French...

The word "dessert" comes from the French word "desservir" which means "to clear the table." The word was first used during the 17th century to describe the offering of sweets (usually fruit or...

A simple idea for crabmeat. It is eatable crab patties in 20 minutes for the talk of your next cook-out or saving them for another occasion. This recipe makes 6 crabmeat patties.

Vichy France is the name commonly given to the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944, following France's defeat at the hands of Germany in World War II. The government's capital was...

One of the most famous cathedrals in Europe is Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Opinion varies on whether French Bishop Maurice de Sully or Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone of...

Many of us try to duplicate the "joie de vivre" the French have by traveling across the Atlantic. I spent ten years in Paris, France and I would like to show you how to life the...

The Eiffel Tower attracts over six million visitors per year and is an iconic symbol of France.

France instituted its first social insurance program in 1930 with a Medicare-style program for wage-earning workers. French trade unions pushed for this program, which was funded by payroll...

Whether you enjoy a glass of pinot noir with dinner or chatting with friends over a nice Chablis, learning about French wines is a great way to maximize your enjoyment of the fruit of the wine. As...

Notre Dame de Paris, "Our Lady of Paris," is the principle church of the Catholic archdiocese of Paris, France, and a world-famous example of Gothic architecture. The cathedral is visited by...

Acadia was the name given to the eastern region of Canada, specifically the area bordering the Atlantic Ocean, during French colonial rule of the 17th century. Much of the region was eventually...

French food is widely considered the most delicious--and complicated--cuisine in the world. But complexity is usually reserved for restaurant dining or special occasions and is only part of the...

In 1999 the euro replaced the national currencies of many European countries, including France. Similar to traditional French currency, the franc, the euro comes in bills and coins of varying...

Have some words under your belt in case you are in a situation where you need to speak a few words of a foreign language. If you hire someone who speaks another language it is always helpful to...

When traveling in any country there are certain basic phrases that one must learn. Not only will they help you communicate but they will also show people that even though you may not know their...

Planning a trip to France? Going out to a nice restaurant? Or maybe just looking to impress some friends. Learning a language can be difficult, but you need to start somewhere. This guide will...

Most people have heard of Mardi Gras and associate it with New Orleans and big floats. The true authentic Cajun Mardi Gras is celebrated much differently and is much less publicized. The idea is...

When people think of France, the first place that comes to mind is Paris, the largest metropolitan area in the country. Although many who dream of living in France often make Paris their first...

French is not the only language spoken in France. Occitania is a cultural region that covered much of the southern half of France. It became part of the French kingdom in the 15th century and its...

A glass of red wine, a loaf of bread, and beret--according to the Museum of the Beret in Béarn, these are the stereotypical images foreigners have of France. But how did a a military hat from...

Known as the language of romance, French has long captured imaginations. For those who can't afford expensive classes or language programs, learning this magical language may seem like an...

Often identified and simplified as a socialistic structure, the French health care plan is actually fairly complex. In fact, its creators gave it a more privatized role than that of systems in...

Matching T-shirts are a great way to bring a club together, to let others know what you're doing and possibly to entice them to join. When considering T-shirt designs for your French club,...

Frats, kegs, football, dorms, and beer pong; these are a few things college students in the United States have to look forward to. Culturally, the French college experience is quite different, but...

Millions of people speak French as their first or second language. It shares some of its roots with Latin and Greek and with other Romance languages like English, Spanish and Italian. However,...

Learning French as a foreign language is an excellent choice, as it offers a lot of variety of options as a second language. It is not only useful as a foreign language in the United States, but...

Paris, referred to as the City of Light, has a culture like no other city in the world. More than two million people live in Paris, France, and this huge population keeps the city vibrant and...

The French observe and celebrate Easter with great fanfare. It is a religious holiday where instead of Easter baskets, chocolate candy arrives in the early morning by a flying bell. This tradition...

There is no set formula for learning a new language. Different strategies will work for different people. As with any new skill, practicing often will improve your handle on the French language....

What better way to learn a language than in the country of origin? Immerse yourself in the culture and language of France by studying French in Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a port city in southwest...

French sign language differs from American sign language in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, there is no universal sign language, forcing each country's deaf community to learn a new language to...

French is a beautiful Romance language, and learning it for free is easy, thanks to the Internet. Several websites offer sound clips and phrases to establish the basics of the French language. You...

French is considered to be one of the most beautiful languages in the world and is a favorite among those who desire to learn a second language. Whether your intention is to brush up on the French...

Becoming familiar with a culture often means beginning with its language. If French does not seem to be an easy language to learn, there are games designed to make the process less intimidating...

If you are traveling to France or are just interested in the French culture and do not know where to look for information, you can actually look online. The French Today website features some...

There are two main kinds of money in France: "money of account" and "money of exchange." Money of account does not have a physical identity but is more of theoretical money that is used to define...

French is a beautiful language in the Romance family of languages. The other Romance languages include Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian. These languages all share a common Latin...

From basic French textbooks to centuries-old French literature, there is plenty of reading material out there for the individual wanting to learn and enjoy the French language. But French is also...

Going abroad to learn French can be one of the most exciting times in your life. With high culture, world-renowned art museums, beautiful architecture, and delicious food, its no wonder you're...

The Cajun language is a dialect of French and English, and is often called Cajun French. The Cajun people came from Nova Scotia area of Canada about 1755 and settled in Louisiana along the water,...

First, don't even THINK of passing for a Frenchperson; even I, who have never crossed over to the professional side of the hospitality industry, can spot an Amerloque a kilometer -- make that a...

The evolution of women's rights in France has paralleled the efforts of women in other countries, with freedoms and rights gained in many areas, including education, profession, marriage and...

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a French artist often considered a Post-Impressionist. He is known for his paintings and lithographic posters that captured the cabaret scene in the section of Paris...

The French are world renowned for their culinary treats, if you are staying in a French speaking country or visiting a French resteraunt you may want to order your food in French Commandons! ...

Gaul is the name of a former region of Western Europe that roughly corresponds to modern-day France and Belgium but can include other surrounding regions. It was an area populated by a tribe of...

A gratin usually means that a dish, whether of potatoes, a vegetable or perhaps leftover meat, has been baked with a topping of bread crumbs or cheese and then browned. But it can also be a dish,...

The French are known for their stunning taste in clothing and effortless elegance. Home of some of the world's most successful design houses, it is no surprise that Paris is considered to be the...

France's Canal du Midi was a major construction project and impressive engineering accomplishment which still functions today. Though the canal took nearly two centuries to come to fruition from...

Since medieval times, France has created some of the most refined and beautiful furniture in the world. Early on, the French aristocracy was obsessed with culture, beauty and social status,...

When it comes to defining elegance and affluence as a lifestyle, Lalique crystal comes to mind for most people. From its earliest days to present times, the Lalique Company has consistently...