69 facts is back! This time featuring the lovely country of France, because well, who can resist a country that creates superior wine, beautiful art and genetically blessed people? I think 69 facts is quite fitting. After all, who doesn't love the French? (when they are not driving, of course).
1. There is a Victor Hugo street in every town in France.
2. It's illegal to name a pig Napoleon in France.
3. Charles VIII had six toes on one foot and hid this fact by wearing and promoting square toe shoes.
4. The guillotine was the official method of execution during the French Revolution. It was invented by a surgeon named Dr. Guillotin.
5. France produces over 400 types of cheese!
Language:
6. French is the official language of many countries including: Switzerland, Canada, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Monaco, Congo and Niger.
7. The word "salut" means both "hello" and "goodbye"
8. French was the official language of England for over 300 years.
9. It's the mother tongue of 75 million people worldwide.
10. It's the second most commonly taught foreign language, after English.
11. It's the official language of the United Nations.
12. It's the only language (along with English) that's taught in every country in the world.
13. Crayola is a French word that means "oily chalk"
14. At the time of the French Revolution, 75% of French citizens didn't speak French as a mother tongue.
15. Non-French celebrities who speak French include: Jodie Foster, Johnny Depp, Diane Kruger, Elton John, Ewan Mcgregor, Halle Berry, Jackie O, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and John Travolta.
16. 34% of the French can speak English.
17. Between 6-11 million Americans speak French.
18. On the French radio between 8am to 8pm, music must be by French artists.
19. The heir to the French throne was called Le Dauphin, which also means "dolphin."
20. The French eat snails, frog's legs and horsemeat.
21. In 1386, a pig was hung in France for the murder of a child.
Love and Romance
22. The number of times the French kiss each other as a form of greeting varies depending on region. In Corsica, the number of kisses can be as many as 5! (If you have a hot first date, you now know where to go)
23. According to a 2003 survey, the French have the most sex in a year (unsurprisingly!)
24. It's illegal to kiss on railways in France (oops).
25. "French kiss" is a term by the English as a slur on the French culture which was thought to be overly concerned with sex.
26. In France, it's called a tongue kiss or soul kiss.
27. French men have the lowest level of obesity in the EU, and women are second after Denmark.
28. The French have one of the highest life expectancies in the EU (I think there's a strong correlation of this fact to #23)
29. First Lady Carla Bruni has been known to have a string of relationships with famous men including Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Donald Trump.
After being in Paris for two days, here's the extent of the French I've used:
