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This race is a widely known biking race  across the world. The “Tour de France” is the annual men’s cycling race mostly held in France. This race is a very long course throughout the streets of France and it extends from 21-23 days long. This course was first organized in 1903, after they stopped it for the world wars and it is now broadcasted over many different continents. The race over time has been lengthened and its popularity began to grow throughout the globe. Traditionally the race is held in the month of July. The routes change every year to increase difficulty, but the format of the race primarily stays the same. It has been known to pass through the mountain chains in the Pyrenees and the French Alps, and finish in the well-known Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. There are usually around 20-22 teams consisted of 8 riders in each team and they race the 3,500-kilometer race through France. (that is around 2,100 miles) I believe that this race has become so popular due to the diversity throughout the different teams from many different countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France

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Seychelles is a French speaking country made up of 115 islands on the Indian ocean right off of east Africa. They are known for their beautiful nature including beaches, coral reefs, rainforests, as well as rare animals such as the “Aldabra tortoises”. The French settles many of the islands in 1770. But the British tried to take it over and did it successfully for a while and then the French made an agreement with them to split some of the islands that make up this country, so if you look at the culture, it is extremely diverse because of the merging of cultures as an agreement. Many people visit these islands for the beautiful scenery and the many things to do to unwind. You can go scuba diving in the Indian ocean where the waters are crystal clear and you can see the beautiful coral reefs with the many aquatic species habituating them or even just lounge on the beaches where hardly any people are around. Whenever you want to go inside there are many luxury resorts that you can stay in.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/seychelles
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/seychelles/history-language-culture/

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In the seventeenth century when America was settled, the French were the main contributors to professional cookeries in Western Europe. The French were known for having a system of raising young men to become professional chefs from a very young age, which can be seen a little bit in the American culture due to the fact that chefs’ study for many years before becoming chefs. Ironically the English hired French chefs for their own kitchens, but they tended to be suspicious of French cooking because it seemed to mask the fact that it was made with poor quality meats, poultry and fishes. They also did not like the fact that the French culture were eating food such as snails and frog legs that the British considered, “pungent foods”. Even though the English were the largest group to colonize the Americas, the French influences still came through. Even today you can notice many of the French influences on the foods that we eat because they are considered very elegant foods and they taste good as well. Also many chefs that study in times today actually study in France at schools like Le cordon Bleu so that they can learn from some of the best chefs in the world and so they can learn the foods due to their level of elegance in America.

http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195154375.001.0001/acref-9780195154375-e-0328

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Haute couture is term used incorrectly most of the time because people do not actually understand what it means. The actual definition is a term used for a sign of high and elegant people. Couture literally translates to sewing which is kind of ironic because haute couture is actually something to do with the business of fashion and designing. It is very difficult to become a haute couture house because you have to meet many qualifications and also get approved by the French Department of Industry. The members must employ 15 or more people to present their collections twice a year to the French Department and the presentation must be at least 35 pieces of clothing for evening and day wear. The members have very large names attached to them including Coco Chanel, Dior and Pierre Cardin. These houses generate over a billion dollars a year from the fashion shows and also the selling of the collection pieces. These houses also employ over 5,000 people including seamstresses and models. In retrospect it takes over 100 hours to create one dress for the collection and it may not even make it into the collection depending on the designers preference.

https://www.infoplease.com/what-haute-couture

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In 2018 there is a French culture festival. This year it is being held at Houston Texas and took place throughout the entire month of march. This festival allows for people to become a part of the French culture in America for a while. They are introduced to the food and also to the many different aspects of the culture. They have many French bands come out to perform for the people who either like the band or French music or are interested in learning a=more about the music in France. They get many people to sponsor this event as it brings I in millions of people. I looked at some of the sponsors and I was surprised to see many sponsors from French cultured places like Quebec and many different companies that are from places like Louisiana where they speak French. I think this is a good opportunity to allow people to be introduced to the Francophone world. I would love to find out more about this festival and possibly go to it in the future years if it ever comes around here.

http://frenchculture.org/events/7059-2018-french-cultures-festival

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Greetings in the francophone world are very similar and do not differ every much. It is vaery common for someone to shake everyone’s hand that enters and leaves because that is just how they were taught manners. As we learned in our textbook many people shake with their right hand because it is considered rude to do it with any other hand. We also learned the phrase “la bise” this phrase directly translates to the kiss. But, about everyone in the francophone world knows this as a greeting not a sign of love like in America. The kiss is typically done twice starting on the right side and then to the left but depending on where in the francophone part of the world, depends on if you do two kisses. It is safe to say that if you do not know if you are supposed to kiss each cheek then you will follow your counterpart and they will know and guide you if you do one or two. This is different from America because as a sign of closeness we hug instead of kiss like in France.

https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/french-culture/greetings-8d8e3c36-080e-4b7f-bf7f-4adc5bcf4855

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Everyone knows the long slender loaf of bread. Yeah, it’s a baguette and it is one of the most common French known objects around the world. At any time during the day you will see many people with these loafs of bread, whether it be from a bakery to have with dinner or eating it with lunch. The reason for this is because of the versatility of this type of bread. French people can eat this type of bread with any meal whether it be breakfast, lunch dinner or even a midnight snack. The actual word “baguette” means “wand, baton, or stick” referring to the shape of this loaf of bread. Many people believe that the origin of this bread came during the French revolution, but nobody is completely sure when it was invented. But what people do know is that the monarchy was overthrown from the fact that the people in Paris were angry about the lack of bread. Bread is a daily necessity for French people’s diet. The common people in France were mad about the fact that they were watching the upper-class people eating too much bread and they weren’t getting any.

https://bonjourparis.com/food-and-drink/history-baguette-legends-laws-and-lengthy-loaves/

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Surprisingly the French fashion history does not start with Coco Chanel but with someone else who changed the game for fashion. The story starts with a man named Paul Poiret who is known for changing Parisian fashion into what it is today. In 1906 Poiret did something daring that nobody thought that he would do, he ditched the corset look for a more comfortable piece that has the freedom of movement. In the late 1920’s France ditched the very well known “flapper revolution” and filled it with “luxurious capes. Daring kimono jackets, crushed velvet draping and harem pants, etc.” Although this was a very radical movement not many people enjoyed it, but the small amount of people who actually did enjoy it enjoyed it in immense amounts. As you can see below, his dress designs were very simplistic and square, but they were elegant how he liked them. He put elegancy to little things like the sparkles added to her hip section. Even today you can see his implements on many big named designers like Chanel, Dior and many more.

https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/a-brief-history-of-french-fashion-34032

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The French Language in a Global Perspective 

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The French Language in a Global Perspective 

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French is known as one of the most recognized languages in the world. It is the “sixth most widely spoken language after Mandarin Chinese, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Arabic.” There are around 200 million French speakers in the world. Also there are a little bit more than 50 million “partial French speakers.” “Partial French speakers” are known as the many people, such as us who are learning French currently, who are not completely fluent in the language but are either in the process for learning or know enough to hold a true conversation in the language. Since population growth has been at an al time high, the “OIF (Organization Internationale de la Francophonie) estimates that the number of French speakers to reach over 500 million by the year 2050.” French is spoken is on 6 continents including these areas that populate a majority of the French speaking culture, Europe (39.87%) sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean (36.03%), North Africa and the Middle East (15.28%), America and the Caribbean (7.66%) and Asia/Oceania (1.16%). French is also known as the “official language of 29 countries” which is second to the English language which is ranked first.

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/francophony-and-the-french-language/the-status-of-french-in-the-world/

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Out of the 70 million people living in France, the dominant language is surprisingly not at 100 percent spoken throughout the country. About 88% of the residents in France actually speak French. But just like in the united states, the language differs. Just like how in America we all speak different dialects of English depending on which region of the country that you reside in. France is the same way, people from northern France speak differently than the people in the south of France. This occurs mostly due to the many people coming in and out of the many countries that surround France. The languages over time start to change because of the new residence who speak different languages such as, German, Spanish, etc. For example, the people who live towards the border of Italy speak Italian because that is a language that is being brought over by a bordering country. As an American I cannot seem to hear much of a difference in the many dialects but also, I am not used to hearing or speaking French so I would not know. But as someone who live in the south of the united stated I have a different accent than the people who are from up north so I can imagine that is very similar to how French people feel when they hear the different dialects.

https://www.livescience.com/39149-french-culture.html

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In France people are expected to be reserved in public. Instead of being loud and outspoken in France you communicate in a very calm and quiet tone. This is different from Americans because we are expected to speak up and be really loud in public. Similar to American parties, it is considered to be rude to be early or on time to a party. Guests are expected to show up 10-15 minutes late. The reasoning behind this is due to the fact that you can stress out the host by being early to the event that they are hosting. Another fun fact, guest are expected to bring a small gift for the host of the party but, never bring food unless you know the host very well or it is requested because it can clash with the cuisine that the host has prepared. If you are going to bring flowers to the host as the small gift, never bring chrysanthemums because they symbolize death. Finally, at a dinner party you are supposed to wait for the host to let you know where to sit because they usually have a seating chart already planned for the guests.

https://internationalliving.com/countries/france/traditions-and-culture-in-france/

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Not to be confused with the macaroon, which is a coconut haystack that is typically dipped in chocolate. The true macaron is a round sandwich looking treat made from, “meringue, almond flour, and buttercream filling” is a delicacy in France attracts many “foodies” to come back very frequently. This dessert has a very vast flavor and color range. These flavors can differ from a typical salted caramel to a lavender and honey flavored macaron. These beautiful and tasty treats were not always ow they looked today.

The first appearance of this treat was in the middle ages. This macaron was made from,” almonds, egg whites, and sugar” made it “Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.” Even though the macaron has been known to have been originated in France it actually was brought over by Catherine de’ Medici who was of Italian descent. When they originated in Italy in the 8th century they were known as the “priest’s bellybuttons, due to the shape of the treat.”

Even though France did not actually create the macaron it played a big role in making them popular throughout the entire world and that it why many restaurants have started all across the world selling he French delicacy, the macaron.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/paris/articles/the-history-of-the-delicious-macaron/

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Independence Day in France celebrates the end of the monarchy and privilege. This public holiday was established in the year 1880 and stated that July 14th of every year be celebrated as the National Independence Day.

The public holiday celebration starts with a military parade at the capital of France along the 1.9 kilometers long road named the Champs-Elyées. During this the president speaks and people watch the French air force planes be flown above. Just to show you how big of a deal the Independence Day is to France, the President's speech is broadcast throughout France on national television.

Similar to the United States the French use fireworks during their celebrations on Independence Day. But in France, instead of households setting off fire works, each major city ignites the fireworks.

The last tradition is the balls and concerts being organized pretty much everywhere. The most popular ball is still the "Fireman's Ball" which is where the Firemen open their doors for the public to come in and gain an understanding into the firemen's work.

https://www.cia-france.com/blog/culture-french-traditions/the-fourteenth-of-july/

http://africancelebs.com/happy-bastille-day-french-independence-day/