The issues of whom to kiss, when to kiss and how to kiss in France are a potential social minefield. Here are some tips.
a) Whom: French children always present themselves to guests (male and female) to be kissed. This is regarded as quite natural, although it’s something you’d be arrested for in England. My husband has never been able to get his head round this and always tries to shake hands with them, much to their bafflement.
If meeting someone for the first time, always shake hands, even if it’s a woman. It’s acceptable to kiss them at the end of a social evening if you have met them for the first time that evening. Never try to kiss female shopkeepers, gendarmes or civil servants. Frenchmen sometimes kiss each other, but only if they are very good friends of long standing – if you are a man, don’t try it.
b) When: if you are on kissing terms, greeting and valedictory kisses are expected whether you meet someone in the street or at a social event. Some French office workers kiss each other (or shake hands if they’re men) on arriving at the office, on returning to the office after lunch and on going home in the evening.
c) How: the hardest of all. The standard number of times is twice – once on each cheek. In certain parts of France, however, such as the Aveyron, they insist on three. In that case, which cheek should you start with? Not an easy one to call – best to wait to see which one is proffered first. The Parisians, who have to be different, do it four times. This can make the beginning and end of social events a very long drawn-out affair and probably explains why nothing in France ever starts on time.
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Life on La Lune 
Ah, the kissing
Still a minefield with different customs within one tiny village here!!!!
And I get kissed by the builder’s sister now..but not by the builder.. I know you should follow their lead, but I get the distinct vibe that he’s waiting for me!
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Gosh, you have found one of the posts I wrote right at the beginning of this blog, seven years ago! Where we live, it’s three kisses. Less than 10 km away it’s two. What is one to do? And who do you kiss? I am on kissing terms with one of our local priests (I’m not Catholic), but certainly not with another. A minefield, as you say. But, hey, it makes life interesting.
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Sure does! I am wandering through your old posts and I love the etiquette hints and tips!
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Well, thanks for exploring! I must review some of my older posts – after 7 years I’ve written around 550 and sometimes find I repeat myself – one of the advantages of growing older.
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I have been blogging for a number of years too, and I am absolutely certain I’ve reiterated stuff. Well, no one’s noticed yet….
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Hi Vanessa, where we live, in the Cher, they kiss 4 times. Same as in Paris.
Where I come from in Holland, we also kiss but 3 times. I always forget the 4th one here :-)!!
This you also might like, I’ve noticed your ‘all rights reserved’:
http://myfreecopyright.com
Have a nice day,
Karin at fransblond.wordpress.com
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Hi, Karin. That’s interesting about the Cher. I saw a good blog post on kissing in France the other day which was featured on ‘Freshly Pressed’ in WordPress. I can’t remember the URL now, but they had found a really good map of France showing how many times people kiss in different départements. I wonder how they did the research!
Thanks very much for the link. I’ve been to have a quick look and I think I’ll sign up.
Bonne soirée, Vanessa
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People in the Cher are quite to themselves; normally it’s 2 kisses, but if they like you, or you’re family it’s 4. I would have helped with the research, nice job!!
You’re welcome for the link, it’s just that extra protection; I had problems before on another blog from our proprietair and she took ‘things’ from my blog. It just feels saver.
Have a nice day, karin
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Hi Vanessa!
I was laughing out loud when I read this. It is so
accurate and funny! I will return to your blogg, have saved it as a favourite.
Hope you´re all well!
Tina
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Hi Tina,
I’m pleased you like it. Keep coming back – I add new posts a couple of times a week.
Love to you all
Vanessa x
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