The Paris Olympics and the sparkling opening ceremony with singing heads and a parade of boats on the Seine is the perfect time to take a look at beautiful France.
In fact, what do we know about this country? The Eiffel Tower, Mademoiselle Coco with her dresses and fragrances, oysters, onion soup, the Louvre and the Conciergerie... finally, every second person shuddered mentally, looking closely at the frog legs in the pond in the country, and every first must have read "The Three Musketeers" and heard about the Marseillaise.
In our article, you will find a selection of not the most obvious and common facts about France and its inhabitants.
Tricolor
The flag of France, which has become a symbol of revolution and democracy, has had a significant influence on the flags of many European countries. In its modern form, with three vertical stripes of blue, white and red, it appeared in 1794. Until that time, the French flag had undergone many changes. In the time of the first Frankish king, it was blue, symbolizing the good nature of St. Martin of Tours: according to legend, St. Martin shared his blue cloak with a beggar so that he would not freeze. During the reign of the Bourbon dynasty, a white flag was used, studded with golden lilies, a symbol of royal power. In the center of the flag were two angels holding a blue shield with three lilies.
Another state symbol of that period was the oriflamma, the military flag of the king. It was kept on the altar of the Abbey of Saint-Denis and was removed from there only when the monarch of France summoned the army - so the removal of the oriflamma from the cathedral meant war. This sacred relic of the French monarchy was lost in the XIV century, during one of the battles in Flanders.
Most time zones in the world
France is an amazing country that spans 12 time zones. Surprisingly, given that the bulk of the country is in the same time zone. This fact becomes understandable if we take into account the overseas departments and territories of France scattered around the world.
In addition, France is still practicing daylight saving time, adding even more confusion to its time regime.
Mayonnaise
The French had a significant impact on world progress by inventing the parachute, the bicycle, the chandelier, and the font for the blind. The appearance of many such things was accompanied by curious stories.
The history of the origin of mayonnaise can also be attributed to non-trivial. According to legend, the French were besieged in the port of Mahón, and all they had to eat was eggs and butter. One of the cooks who worked in the wagon train came up with the idea of beating eggs with butter and adding spices to diversify the diet. This sauce was to everyone's taste and was called "mayonnaise", just in honor of the port of Mahon.
Politeness
Politeness in France is of great importance. The French strictly adhere to the rules of etiquette, and you can be judged for asking, "Where's the restroom here?" without first saying "Hello." Kids are taught from childhood to speak politely and correctly. In the workplace, it is forbidden to raise your voice at your superiors, and it is strictly forbidden for your superiors to yell at subordinates, emphasizing the importance of the principles of mutual respect and politeness.
African accent
French plays a significant role not only in Europe, but also in Africa: there it has more native speakers than in the Fifth Republic itself! This is due to the fact that during the colonial period, France had extensive possessions on the African continent.
After independence, many African countries retained French as an official language. In the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Gabon and many other countries, French remains the language of education, culture, official documents and international communication. This makes France one of the leading French-speaking countries in the world and highlights its cultural and historical influence on a global level.
The first artificial heart
In 2013, France made medical history by successfully performing the world's first artificial heart transplant. This revolutionary operation was performed to save a 75-year-old patient suffering from acute heart failure.
The artificial heart, created by the French biomedical company Carmat, cost $80,000 , and the total cost of the operation was about $120,000 .
This event was an important milestone in cardiology, opening up new avenues for the treatment of patients with heart disease, and demonstrated the high level of French medicine and engineering.
All for the sake of the family
France is proud of its tradition of supporting family values. For more than a century, since 1920, mothers of many children have been awarded medals for good upbringing of children in honor of Mother's Day. This award symbolizes the recognition of the merits of women who have devoted their lives to raising a large number of children. This tradition emphasizes the importance of family values and the role of mothers in society, showing a deep respect for their work and dedication.
Now the main thing is what needs to be done to get this medal? - that the youngest child in the family is 16 years old. An ideal reputation and some other conventions are also required.
Food is not thrown away
In 2016, France took a significant step forward in the fight against food waste by imposing fines on grocery stores for throwing away excess food. The law, which obliges supermarkets to donate unsold products to charity or recycling, was an important step towards sustainable consumption.
This law reflects the philosophy of the French people: all products should be used as much as possible. Many countries have followed suit, implementing similar laws and initiatives aimed at reducing food waste and helping those in need.
It is forbidden to kiss on the platforms
It is forbidden to kiss on the platforms of French train stations, and this measure has a funny history. At the beginning of the 20th century, train drivers often faced delays caused by the fact that couples in love said goodbye and kissed for a long time on the platforms, interfering with the timely departure of trains.
In 1914, when World War I broke out, kissing was banned to avoid delays and ensure smooth train traffic. After the war, the restriction was left, and over time, this ban became part of the cultural code of the country and still surprises many tourists.
The dead have civil rights
In France, there is an unusual law, allowing you to marry the dead. This possibility, known as postmortem marriage, was officially recognized after 48-year-old Pascal Liard received permission from President François Hollande in 2014 to marry her lover, who died of a heart attack.
The President personally signed the marriage permit. This case is not an isolated one: French law allows such marriages, provided that a strong attachment is proven and the desire to marry was expressed during the lifetime of the deceased. Such a law emphasizes respect for people's feelings and memory even after their death, demonstrating the cultural traditions of French society.
