In France, kissing is as common as seeing a person carrying a baguette or drinking an espresso while standing at the bar of a neighborhood café.
Now, “la bise,” (cheek-to-cheek pecks) that the French use while saying hello or goodbye, has come under pressure because of the current threat of global swine flu.
Even though only three (possible) swine-flu related deaths have been reported, the French Ministry of Health is alerting people they need to stop kissing. And they are serious, even though it goes against the grain of French tradition.
Some are wondering how and if the French will be able to kick the bise habit. When greeting each other, they peck cheeks alternating three of four times in rapid succession. Parisians, and most especially students, kiss four times. Any excuse and there are additional kisses. Shaking hands and cheek kisses are imprinted in a French person’s psyche as to what’s correct and what’s not.
As winter approaches, some French schools, companies and a hot-line sponsored by Health Ministry, are advising students and employees to avoid the social kissing ritual. They fear that because of flu, a kiss might cause illness or in the extreme, death.
Better to be cautious than contract this strain, which causes people to run incredibly high fevers. It’s highly contagious and leaves people feeling as if they want to die even if the virus is a temporary affliction. Those who’ve had the flu report that every bone in their body has ached and some say they’ve never experienced a flu that’s plowed them under so acutely.
People are advised to keep a minimum of a three feet from others and face masks should be worn when possible. “These are recommendations, not requirements: People are free to do what they like.” said a hot-line operator.
The French government’s main thrust is to encourage people to wash their hands frequently and use sanitary wipes and gels. Caution is the rule of the week. Teachers are requesting students refrain from kissing one another and French government authorities are asking people to sneeze into tissues – or even their sleeves – to avoid air-born germs.
Some people are staying away from department stores and other closed places for fear of being infected. Since the swine flu vaccine isn’t forecast to be available until October, many people are being extra cautious. Besides prevention, stay home if you’re running a fever or think you might be contracting the flu.
It will be interesting to see whether or not this is yet another blow to tourism.
A French tour operator said some people have canceled their travel plans because of the most recent epidemic which isn’t confined to France but is global. Not a day goes by when there aren’t doom and gloom forecasts concerning this pandemic.
All you have to do is walk through any airport and you’ll see people wearing face-masks. Is this another Avian flu that dealt the deathblow to travel a few years ago? Are you postponing your plans for fear of contamination? Let’s face it; most tourists would rather be sick at home rather than spending vacation time down and out in a hotel room – even if there is a view of the Eiffel Tower.
Please post whether or not you’re changing your travel plans. If you’re not, what precautions are you taking? Or, are you among those who view the flu a get-up-and-go opportunity?
Karen Fawcett is president of Bonjour Paris.
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Would I change my travel plans because of the threat of swine flu? Absolutely not. I won’t live my life in fear of the “what ifs” of everything. The precautions I’ll take are the same as those I’d take to avoid catching someone’s cold: avoid contact with those infected and wash my hands as often as I can (without seeming like I have OCD). Will I stop shopping at Galeries Lafayette or dining at Angelina’s? Not a chance.
Now that is a real cultural dilemma but a potential time saver since all this cheek kissing takes a lot of time and you can easily miss a bakery or any other shop closing since work hours are so short here in France; one must allow for the kiss-time factor, you know! in addition to long long lunches and having to plan for the dinner menu….it’s all trop!
BOY! IS THAT EVER A GNARLY QUESTION! I DOUBT OLDER CITIZENS WILL STOP. PERHAPS THE YOUNGEST GENERATION CAN BE PERSUADED TO BYPASS THIS TRADITION SINCE THEY ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE IT INGRAINED YET. BUT IT WILL TAKE THE CURRENT GENERATION OF PAR…ENTS TO REINFORCE THE IDEA THAT IT IS A HABIT THAT HAS TO BE STOPPED FOR THE SAKE OF SANITATION! WE’LL SEE WHO WINS THIS WAR; THE GERMS OR THE CUSTOMS!
THEN AGAIN, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE FRANCE BAN SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES EITHER!
MIRACLES HAPPEN!
No way will the French ever stop kissing. They’re born to kiss – it’s a reflex just like americans chew gum….
I await the results with pickled breath.
not going to happen till people are dropping like flies and maybe not then. nor should it. it’s a part of the joy of being in France. for some of us getting older and fatter by the hour it’s a last chance to get close to a pretty young girl too. now who in their right mind is going to forego that?
Will I change me travel plans? No. I have been using the standard sanitary precautions now for some time, so I’ll continue. If the flu seems rather widespread, I might resort to a face mask and make doubly sure I am carefully detailed with hygiene at home, as well as abroad.
Will the French either stop or avoid la bise? No. I would probably go more for the air bise, not breathing on both the approach to and departure from the bise, and avoid shaking hands, all of which is difficult when so accustomed. Fortunately the French have the wonderful social courtesy of greeting everyone on entering and saying a general good-bye on departing, no matter where, so good manners will certainly remain strong. Once this round of flu subsides, the “old ways” will return with a happy, safe sigh of relief by one and all.
I think the American custom of kissing on the lips puts people more at risk than the French cheek-pecks. What works in our favor, however, is that we are more a nation of huggers than kissers.
Whatever the risk, I’m coming, and will be so happy to be there, I’ll hug tout le monde!
I’m wondering if I will remember not to bise next time I go….our neighbors in the village are inveterate kissers – will they stop?
Reading so many articles about it… To be afraid, or not?