Welcome on France's page!
France is a country of the "Old Continent", in the middle west of Europe. It's a beautiful country, and our capital is, as everybody knows, Paris.
Population : 63 millions (2006)
Population's density : 110 inhabitants by km²
Rate of urbanization : 80 %
Life expectancy men / women : 76 years old / 83 y.o.
Rate of alphabétisation : 99 %
Population repartition : French people 92 %, others 8 %
Official language : french
Religions : catholics 64 %, atheists 27 %, others 9 %
Rank : 4th on 174 countries
Area : 675 418 km² (metropolitan France + others French territories)
French people :
French people are Latin's people, historically. By definition, Latin's people are easy-coming, cordial, and generally "epicurean".
That's perhaps the reason why we like food, clothes, dancing, arts ...
Frenchies is our english nickname, I find it all right !
We always have this idea of the french man with his beret and his loaf of French bread, but I can tell you that it's not true ! French people are modern, dynamics, and a bit proud of themselves I think. Maybe it's not false... But we are also pacific, respectful and we like to have new people to meet. Physically, women measure 1.63m for 62kg, men measure 1.75m for 77kg (in end 2004).
Food:
Our cookery (the "French cuisine") is known all over the world for it's savoury meats. We've got many different specialities based generally on the separation betwenn meal and vegetables. In fact, we like to eat separately, to appreciate each food. And it's a tradition to drink a famous red wine to accomodate the dinner : Bordeaux, Bourgogne... or Champagne if it's a great event.
Arts:
France is also famous for it's painters (Renoir, Cézanne, Monet...) , it's authors (Hugo, Maupassant, Molière...) , it's actors (Reno, Gabin, Depardieu...) and actress ! (Deneuve, Béart, Bardot...) . And what about music ? Classic (Chopin...) , Rock ( Superbus , Dolly , Luke , Trust...) , Rap (IAM, Diam's...)
Send me an e-mail if you want something special !!
Traditions
- The New Year , each 01/01 we wish happiness for our family and friends during a special dinner.
- Epiphany : we eat a pancake called Galettes des Rois .
- 28/02 : Mardi Gras : the carnival day !
- 14/07 : National Feast in memory of the day where the Bastille has been caught.
- Toussaint : Dead's day.
- 11 November : Armistice 1918 , the end of the 2nd Global War for France
- 25/12 : Noël is the day of Jesus' birth. Santa Claus is coming to offer many presents !