And of course, there is la bise, the famous French tradition of kissing on the cheek, which friends and family do to greet each other instead of a handshake or hug.
The French tradition of greeting with a cheek kiss, la bise, goes all the way back to ancient Roman times, when a friendly kiss called a basium was a common way to show warmth and trust. Over hundreds of years, this custom became woven into everyday French life. For the French, taking the time to properly greet someone is a way of saying: "I see you, I respect you and I'm glad you're here." Whether you walk into a bakery or meet a friend at the park, a proper greeting is the first step to any good interaction. Skipping it, as I accidentally did, can feel rude because it signals that you don't care enough to acknowledge the person in front of you.
One of the most fascinating things I discovered is that la bise actually changes depending on which part of France you are in! The tradition is not one-size-fits-all because it is shaped by local customs that have developed over generations in different regions. In Paris, two kisses (one on each cheek) is the standard. But when I traveled to Marseille in the south of France, people often exchanged three or even four cheek kisses! On top of that, in southern regions it is common for male friends who are not related to greet each other with la bise, while in the north, men typically only kiss close family members. France is not a huge country, but its greeting habits show just how much local culture and environment shape everyday moments.
