Religious Customs

Everyone is free to practice any religion they like in France because it is a nation that is officially devoid of all religious traditions. Both atheism, which rejects the existence of God, and agnosticism, which holds that it is impossible for humans to comprehend God, are openly practiced. There may also be adherents of Protestantism, Islam, or Judaism. The bulk of the population practices and adheres to Roman Catholicism notwithstanding all these freedoms.

The handshake is a typical welcoming gesture. Friends can welcome one another by giving each other a quick kiss on the cheeks, once on the left and once on the right. For family and close friends only, first names are used. Never call someone by their first name unless you've been invited. As entering a store, you should use the honorific titles Monsieur or Madame and say "bonjour" or "bonsoir," respectively, and "au revoir" (good-bye) when you leave. If you live in an apartment complex, it's courteous to use the same name to address your neighbors.