Category Archives: French customs

The Secret of Coffee in France

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Rosemary Kneipp

Why can’t I get a proper cup of coffee in France? This is a question I am often asked by disappointed Australians and Americans who are used to a very wide variety of coffee beverages and are surprised to see … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs, Lifestyle | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Exchanging an Australian driver licence for a French licence

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Rosemary Kneipp

A driver licence issued by a country outside France is only recognised for one year once the person acquires “normal residence” in France, normal residence being defined as the place in which you live for at least six months (185 … Continue reading →

Posted in Certified translation, French customs | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Why must birth certificates in France be less than 3 months old?

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Rosemary Kneipp

Most foreigners living in France are asked at some stage to deliver a full birth certificate that is less than 3 months old. Why three months? If you’ve even seen a French birth certificate of someone who has been married, … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs, Sworn translation | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

French-Style Primaries

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Rosemary Kneipp

The first time I voted in the French presidential elections in 2007, there were no primaries. In 2012, the main parties held their own primaries but it was an internal vote and you had to be a party member. This … Continue reading →

Posted in France, French customs | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Friday’s French – galette, galet, shingles, gâteau, cake, pancakes, crepes, biscuits

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Rosemary Kneipp

It’s galette des rois time again.  This is the cake used to celebrate the Epiphany in France, the 12th day of Christmas, January 6th, the day on which the three kings reached Bethlehem. It has become an essential part of New … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs, French language | Tagged | 16 Comments

Friday’s French – Ecole Normale, normal, standard, norme, norm

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Rosemary Kneipp

The first time I heard the expression école normale was when I took up a post as an assistant English teacher in Nantes many moons ago. I soon discovered that it was a teacher training college. I then heard about the école normale … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs, French language | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Friday’s French – Trêve des confiseurs

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Rosemary Kneipp

I heard a new expression on France Info this week – “l’entre deux fêtes” – which literally means “between two celebrations”, the first being Christmas and the second New Year. It’s the same construction as ‘l’entre-deux-guerres”, which is what the … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs, French language | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Great Things about Christmas in France

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Rosemary Kneipp

Phoebe from Lou Messugo –  traveller, francophile, expat, mum and foodie now living in Roquefort les Pins near Nice where she runs a gîte after many years of travelling and living in Asia, Eastern Europe and Australia – has come up with … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Voting in the provinces

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Rosemary Kneipp

There are no provinces in France but anything that happens outside Paris is called “en province”. In fact, France is divided first into 27 regions, including Normandie, Picardy and Brittany (our region is called Centre and not Pays de la … Continue reading →

Posted in French customs, Les Grouets | Tagged | 7 Comments

Invited for Dessert

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Rosemary Kneipp

We haven’t seen Mr and Mrs Previous Owner for quite some time, what with moving, retirement blues, Christmas, New Year, the flu, Granada, getting over the flu and finishing the glass doors and shutters. However, we are now sufficiently en … Continue reading →

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