All About The French

Their History
 • The Europeans came to the Caribbean in search of
wealth. ... This also made the Caribbean colonies

WHY DID THE valuable – and tempting targets for rival empires.
Britain and France were constantly at war in the
18th century and early 19th century, with places
FRENCH CAME such as Martinique changing hands many
times.Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc was a French
TO THE trader and adventurer in the Caribbean, who
established the first permanent French colony,
CARIBBEAN Saint-Pierre, on the island of Martinique in 1635.
Belain sailed to the Caribbean in 1625, hoping to
establish a French settlement on the island of St.
Christopher (St. Kitts).
 • The Dutch, the French, and the British followed
CONTRIBUTIONS one another to the region and established a long-
MADE THE term presence. They brought with them millions
of slaves imported from Africa to support the
FRENCH tropical plantation system that spread through the
Caribbean islands.
The French Family

• In Western societies, mothering and fathering are generally conceptualized

as distinct social roles, marriage being considered as the institution which
provides the best framework for child-rearing (nuclear family model). Yet
it is important that health-care practitioners recognize that children can
be successfully raised in very diverse types of family organizations,
including extended female-headed families. Although at first sight this type
of family structure appears to be lacking in male models and therefore
seems to be defective, we stress the following points, using three case
illustrations from French Caribbean families: (i) Functional extended
matrifocal Caribbean families can resourcefully respond to the child’s
fundamental socialization needs, and the paternal role is often adequately
fulfilled in a variety of ways (by fathers as well as other persons) in these
families; and (ii) when Caribbean families’ ability to ‘father’ the child is
disrupted (through social isolation, migration or specific
psychological/developmental problems), mental health professionals
working with these families should base their interventions on treatment
models that promote the (re)construction of a functional extended family
network and apply more flexible concepts of ‘fatherhood’ than those
dictated by the nuclear family model.
Religion In France

•   Catholicism in France
• Catholicism was once the state religion of
France and continues to be the primary
religion in French society. Throughout most of
the country, communities began as parishes.
Today, many rural villages see the local church
building as a symbol of local identity.
Catholicism continues to play a notable role in
French society. The church bell rings to mark
deaths and weddings. Many people have their
infants baptized and most private education in
France is Roman Catholic.
CONT’D

• In 1685, the Code Noir prescribed that all

slaves in the French islands were to be
instructed and baptized in the Roman
Catholic religion. The colonists paid little
attention to the code, especially the
sections dealing with religious obligations
that were opposed to their economic
interests. Priests varied greatly during the
first half of the 18th century; some were
zealous about their duties, others
attended only to the external aspects of
religion.
The French Food (Bokit Sandwich

• Guadeloupe, an archipelago in the Antilles, is

an overseas region of France. The indigenous
Arawak and Carib people lived on the island
before the Spanish, British, and French fought
to make the island a colony. The French
brought African slaves and spices from Asia,
and Guadeloupe became a melting pot of
culinary influence. It was this mix of
ingredients and styles of cooking that led to the
bokit’s creation.
Bokit Sandwich

• Many people not from the islands think

traditional Caribbean food is a plate of rice piled
high with seafood. Bokit, on the other hand, is
similar to a sandwich, though it’s not your
typical beach shack meal. While the origins
aren’t exactly clear, like most pedestrian meals
and street food, it became popular because of its
low cost and convenience.
Local Fruits,
Vegetables and Spices
COCO SORBET

• Mix the coconut milk and the sweetened

condensed milk in a large bowl.
• Add the lime zest, the cinnamon, the
nutmeg and vanilla extract.
• Finally, add the water and mix until you get
an homogeneous mixture.
• Set aside in your freezer either in ice cubes
trays or in 3 plastic boxes (1 liter capacity
each).
• When it's completely frozen (10 hours
minimum), set your sorbet ice cubes (or
your 3 sorbet blocks cut in small cubes) in
your blender or Thermomix.
• Mix until you get a very smooth sorbet (1
minute approx.).
• Serve immediately or set back in your
freezer.
Coffee in a drying process

• Fun Fact
• Coffee beans can be dried in the sun or
by machine but in most cases it is dried
in the sun to 12-13% moisture and
brought down to 10% by machine.
Drying entirely by machine is normally
only done where space is at a premium
or the humidity is too high for the beans
to dry before mildewing.
Manioc cake
(Cassava cake)

• The perfect blend of cheesy,

buttery, and nutty, this cake
melts in your mouth, letting you
fully enjoy the harmonious
intermingling of flavors. It’s a
delightful and hearty way to finish
up a fantastic meal –– and one you
can bring to potlucks, too!
• With Latin American roots,
cassava was first introduced to
the Philippines some time in the
16th century. Many also point out
that this dish was a native of
Lucban, Quezon. 
Sugar cane juice

• Sugarcane juice is obtained from

the sugarcane plant (Saccharum
Officinarum) Saccharum signifies
its sweet flavour due to its high
sugar content It is served as
a cooling drink with ice,
flavoured with a dash of lemon or
sizzled with mint, ginger and salt.
The French Customs

•Customs of the French

•Most people associate French culture with Paris, which is a center of
fashion, cuisine, art and architecture, but life outside of the City of
Lights is very different and varies by region.
•France doesn't just have culture; the word "culture" actually comes
from France. "'Culture' derives from the same French term, which in
turn derives from the Latin colere, meaning to tend to the earth and
grow, cultivation and nurture,"
•Languages 
•French is the official language and the first language of the majority  of
the population. It is the dominant language of the country, but there are
a number of variants based on region. French is the second most widely
learned foreign language in the world. A small percentage may speak
German, Arabic, Italian and other dialect from former French colonies.
 
CONT’D

•Values
•The French believe in égalité, which means equality, and is part of the country's motto: "Liberté, Egalité,
Fraternité." Many say they place a higher importance on equality than liberty and fraternity, the other
two words in the motto.
•Clothing 
•Paris is known as the home to many high-end fashion houses, such as Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and
Chanel. Many French people dress in a sophisticated, professional and fashionable style, but it is not
overly fussy. Typical outfits include nice dresses, suits, long coats, scarves and berets.

French art
•Art is everywhere in France — particularly in Paris and other major cities — and Gothic, Romanesque
Rococo and Neoclassical influences can be seen in many churches and other public buildings. Many of
history’s most renowned artists sought inspiration in Paris The Louvre Museum in Paris is among the
world's largest museums and is home to many famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa and Venus
de Milo. 
•
Holidays And Celebrations
•The French celebrate the traditional Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter. They mark May Day,
also known as Labor Day, on May 1. Victory in Europe Day on May 8 commemorates the end of
hostilities in Europe in World War II. Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14. This is the day the
Bastille fortress in Paris was stormed by revolutionaries to start the French Revolution.
 
The French Social Organization

• The social organization of the French was under a system called Ancien
Régime. The Ancien Régime (Old Regime or Former Regime) was the
social and political system established in France from approximately the
15th century until the latter part of the 18th century under the late Valois
and Bourbon dynasties. France under the Ancien Régime (before the
French Revolution) divided society into three estates: the First Estate
(clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate
(commoners).
The First Estate
• The First Estate comprised the entire clergy, traditionally divided into
“higher” and “lower” clergy. Although there was no formal boundary
between the two categories, the upper clergy were effectively clerical
nobility from the families of the Second Estate. In the time of Louis
XVI, every bishop in France was a nobleman, a situation that had not
existed before the 18th century. At the other extreme, the “lower clergy”
(about equally divided between parish priests and monks and nuns)
constituted about 90 percent of the First Estate, which in 1789
numbered around 130,000 (about 0.5% of the population).
CONT’D

• The Second Estate

•The Second Estate was the French nobility and technically, although not customarily use royalty, other than
the monarch himself. It is traditionally divided into the 'nobility of the sword' and 'nobility of the robe', the
magisterial class that registered royal justice and civil government. The Second Estate constituted
approximately 1.5% of France’s population and were exempt from the corvée royale (forced labor on the
roads) and most other forms of taxation such as the gabelle (salt tax) and most importantly, the taille (the
oldest form of direct taxation). This exemption from paying taxes led to their reluctance to reform.

The Third Estate

•The Third Estate is composed of those who were not members of the above and can be divided into two
groups, urban and rural, together making up 98% of the population. The urban included the
bourgeoisie(middle class) and wage-laborers. The rural population included peasants who owned their land
( and could be prosperous) and peasants who worked on nobles’ or wealthier peasants' land. The peasants
paid disproportionately high taxes compared to the other Estates and simultaneously had little to no rights. In
addition, the First and Second Estates relied on the labor of the Third, which made the latter’s unequal status
all the more unjust.
•The Third Estate men and women shared the hard life of physical labor and food shortages. Most were born
within this group and died as part of it. It was extremely rare for individuals of this status to advance to
another estate. Those who crossed the class lines did so mainly of either being recognized for their
extraordinary bravery in a battle or entering religious life. Some commoners were able to marry into the
Second Estate, although that was very rare.
•
Additionally, the king was considered part of no estate.
The French Architecture

• Wrap-around porches: French colonial homes often have a

singular porch or two parallel  wide porches on both their
upper and lower stories that wrap around the outside of the
structure. These homes typically didn’t have central
hallways, and the wrap-around porches were used to access
the different rooms of a home. They were designed to
protect the home interior from more extreme weather like
heat and heavy rain. During the Victorian era, many modern
French colonial-style homes in America were built with
wrought iron porches, which is not considered part of the
original style.
• Pitched roofs: French colonial-style houses often feature
steep eaves with dormers and wide-hipped roofs where all
the sides slope downward.
• Raised basements: A raised basement helps protect the
lower level of a French colonial house from flooding.
CONT’D

• Vaulted ceilings: Vaulted ceilings are an important

feature of French colonial buildings. The extra
height allows for more air circulation in the humid
conditions of the south-eastern US.
• Structural symmetry: When you look at them from
the front, French colonial houses are often square
and symmetrical, though additional modifications
may alter their silhouette.
• French double doors: The main entryway of a French
colonial-style home is typically a short staircase from
the ground ending in a pair of French double doors
on the first porch. A pair of French double doors are
also used for access to an upper balcony as well
THE FRENCH TECHNOLOGY

• In 1997 Philippe Kahn created the first camera phone

solution for sharing pictures instantly on public
networks. To announce the birth of Kahn’s daughter
he rigged a mobile phone with a digital camera and
sent off photos following her birth in real time.
• It is this demonstrated attitude to keep looking for
the new, to push beyond obstacles, and to move
beyond tragedy and hardship that is behind the
strength of humanity. Parisians will overcome, France
will overcome, and nothing will put an end to what
they will continue to bring to the world.
• 
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT

• Appointed by the President of the Republic (Head

of State), the Prime Minister is the Head of
Government. He "directs the actions of the
Government” and in principle sets out the
essential political guidelines which, except in the
case of cohabitation, are those of the President of
the Republic. He must also ensure the
coordination of Government action and prevent
different ministers from taking contradictory
initiatives through his arbitration. He is not the
hierarchical superior of the other ministers. He
may never force them to take a decision which
they are unwilling to take responsibility for, but
he may suggest their dismissal to the President in
the event of serious misconduct.
CONT’D

• The Prime Minister ensures the implementation of laws and exercises

regulatory power, subject to the signature by the Head of State of
ordinances and decrees which have been deliberated upon in the
Council of Ministers. He may, in exceptional circumstances, replace
the President of the Republic as chairman of the Council of Ministers.
He is also responsible for national defence, even though the broad
guidelines are often set by the President of the Republic.
 
The ministers and ministers of state are appointed by the President
of the Republic upon a proposal of the Prime Minister. Their powers
are centred on two main missions. On the one hand, the ministers
head a ministerial department. In addition, ministers are responsible
for the supervision of public legal entities acting within their
ministerial department's field of competence. In principle, ministers
do not hold regulatory power (that is the power to dictate general
standards), except in the administration over their own ministerial
department. Regulatory power is generally exercised by the Prime
Minister, who may delegate the exercise of this power to his
ministers.