A Guide To Sending Gifts To France, Culture & More

Jan 23, 2024 | International Gifting Guides

Sending gifts to France is easy with our guide on the best times, the proper etiquette to apply and the perfect gift choices to delight your French recipients.

The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, Cannes, Mont Blanc, Nice …. nice!  We could spend the next few hours mentioning all the magnificent wonders, vistas and variety France has to offer and still miss so many. 

While people place emphasis on the monuments, cities and cathedrals; there are many other areas in the country that offer an exquisite, more natural, ambiance. For instance, in the French countryside; the south of the country plays home to the most picturesque lavender fields that attract tourists in droves as they come to witness the gorgeous blooms light up Provence from May through July. 

Gifts to France

Located in Normandy, the Island of Saint Michael sees a million visitors every year. The island includes cathedrals, medieval buildings and golden sand beaches that surround the landmark; making it a UNESCO world heritage site for its historical significance and pure standout beauty. 

And how can we speak of France without paying homage to the Mona Lisa. The Louvre is one of the most renowned museums in the world, with over 10 million visitors a year. The museum itself is known for its architectural shape, made of a glass pyramid in the court of the historical building. But if you visited the Louvre purely for the Da Vinci masterpiece itself, we wouldn’t blame you. It is pretty spectacular. 

If you’re on the hunt for special gifts to France, we have some options for you that are culturally-sensitive and French inspired. So take note and let’s get going. 

Things That People in France Love

While the French have stood out to the world with a surprising drop in wine consumption as of recent, the average resident of the wine heartland still loves to indulge in 1.2 bottles of their favorite wine per week. And since France remains a top wine exporter, sipping on a luscious bordeaux or burgundy is simply noted as their joie de vivre… or when translated, their enjoyment of life. 

The pleasures the French derive from their cuisine can seem endless, yet two of their gastronomic heroes are cheese and as we’ve mentioned above, wine. In fact, the cheese-wine pairing is so loved by the French, it is considered a symbol of tradition and habit in the French culture such that it embodies a regional heritage. Europe is the continent known for producing and consuming the most cheese, with the average Frenchman consuming 25.9 kilos (57.10 lbs) of this beloved delicacy per year. 

Gifts to France

French Gifting Etiquette

As the French love a flair for the finest things in life, their gift – giving also somewhat reflects their expensive taste. When sending gifts to France, it is best not to make it an inexpensive one as this can typically be interpreted as an insult. It’s wise to rather choose a high-quality gift that’s sure to impress. 

Gifts to France

Known as one of the culinary capitals of the world, a gourmet food gift would reign supreme. Adding a gift note to make it personal is a gesture that’s sure to be well received as the French are also known for their sincerity and personal touches. And if you’re attending a house or dinner party, rather opt out of taking wine as this is considered the host’s choice. 

Popular Holidays and Celebrations in France

In France, the people know how to celebrate life’s momentous occasions in spite of the date. But did you know the French annual calendar is punctuated with eleven bank holidays and several religious, civil and commemorative celebrations. Some of the most notable times the French like to celebrate, and some perfect occasions to use to send gifts to France, include:

Christmas in France (Noél): As it is in so many places around the world, Christmas in France is a time spent with family and friends. It is typically a low key event but is also marked as a culinary high point for the year. The Le Réveillon de Noël (Christmas Eve dinner) is celebrated with scrumptious food, pâtisseries (like a pain d’épice  – a spiced honey bread) and gifts. 

Gifts to France

Bastille Day (Fête Nationale): This is France’s national day, analogous to the U.S Independence day. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille in the French revolution on July 14th, 1789. Some ways the French like to celebrate this day is by toasting with a glass of French champagne, hosting a cheese and wine party or having a French-inspired picnic.

All Saints Day (La Toussaint): The French celebrate this holiday, on the 1st of November, by honoring their loved ones who have passed on. They traditionally attend a church service before sharing a midnight meal together consisting of bacon, pancakes, black grain and cider. Additionally they also like to lay chrysanthemums on the graves of their loved ones. 

Easter (Pâques): Easter traditions in France typically include chocolate, chicken and lamb. The most traditional dish is a leg of lamb cooked with provençal herbs, garlic, cumin and olive oil. Any gourmet gifts to France that are of great quality, will make an idealistic way to celebrate this special time of year.

Whether it’s a national holiday, a civil one or a religious celebration; the French are generally consistent about one thing – their genuine sentiment and feelings of gratitude. Sending a gift to a French recipient to commemorate any of the holidays they celebrate is a way to truly embrace the culture. 

Popular Gifts to Send to France

Flowers are a beautifully thoughtful gift to send to a recipient in France. Yet there are a few things to note before sending a floral arrangement. If you choose to gift a bouquet of flowers, the number of flowers you should send ought to be an odd number. However, do not send 13 flowers as this is considered unlucky. The type of flowers is also noteworthy. Chrysanthemums are flowers that should typically not be given to a French person as they represent death and can be construed as an insult. 

Chocolates and wines are also a great offering. As the French love wine and cheese, a gift basket inspired by this perfect pairing is an ideal choice. A food or beverage gift basket, filled with gourmet treats, is sure to make a lasting impression on your French recipient. 

In France, everyone typically waits for each person to have a glass of something to drink placed before them, preferably alcohol, before they begin drinking. When raising a toast – whether by a guest or host – it is considered rude not to drink long or simply take a sip with the party. Some of the things the French host include “À ta santé” (to your good health), “à la tienne” (to yours) or simply “tchin-tchin” (cheers). 

Let Giftsenda Help

In addition to the various gift options to send to France, our team is also able to manage your gift campaigns to France from start to finish. 

If you’re sending various gifts to France, you can make use of our shareable gift links, which are links that can be shared on any messaging platform.The recipient can choose a gift or accept a pre-selected gift and provide their details, et voila! These make it easy to scale your gifting campaign and make for a seamless gifting process. For a more branded or special way to deliver a gift link, you can customize an email or landing page to ensure your recipient receives their gift in a truly unique way. 

Tracking your efforts is also simple with Giftsenda as you can make use of real-time data that gives you an indication of the number of gifts that have been delivered, the total cost of your campaign and so forth. 

For more information, visit www.giftsenda.com or start a campaign today.

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