Cultural Overview - Families in France

When we talk about families, we usually mean only parents and their children. But when the French talk about their family, they are probably including their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. In large families, this is, this may add up to forty or fifty people or even more. Holidays and vacations are often spent with these relatives. Occasions such as weddings and baptism are family times, and everyone makes a special effort to attend.

The smaller family of parents and their children then to spend a lot of time together, too. If you ask a teenager what he or she did on the weekend, there’s a good chance that the answer will be “I went to the country with my family,” or “I spent time with my family.” Of course, not all leisure time is spent with parents – young people also go out with their friends. But in general, quite a bit of time is set aside for activities with the family.

Source: Son et Sens. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresmen and Company. 3rd Ed. P. 33.