•Culture

Languages:  French, the official language. Those living near the border of Italy may speak Italian as a second language, and Basque is spoken by people living along the French-Spanish border.

Religion: Catholicism is the predominant religion of France.

Clothing: Paris is known as the home to many high-end fashion houses, such as Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

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.