Why saying Bonjour is de rigueur in France

This morning we went on a 7.5km walk with the dog and met only one human – a farmer looking after his cattle. 

As we walked past he looked up and I shouted “Bonjour”, to which he replied punctiliously.

In our sparsely populated area of France, you will nearly always get a return greeting. Small towns are similar.

But even in some areas of Paris the polite “Bonjour” remains, at least in our remote quartier near the Périphérique, where tourists are almost as rare as the humans on our country dog walks.

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Is it a cultural thing? 

Everyday greetings are a good pointer to a culture. Every English speaker in France knows the frosty reception that failing to say "Bonjour" elicits, especially to an official or in the boulangerie. 

In Britain, we are used to getting straight to business. To go into a shop and ask for something is not an insult, it is merely direct. It might be advisable to preface the question with a “Hi”, but that is a matter of judgement as to the kind of shop it is. 

In Paris, I remember once asking a policeman for directions without first offering a salutation. 

He responded pointedly by prefacing his answer with a “Bonjour”, which might count as a gentle reminder. 

On one occasion I received the stern instruction “Bonjour, d’abord” – “Hello, first” – which is not unreasonable in the cultural context. 

Even in a ‘rough’ area of Paris, otherwise threatening-looking youths will invariably pose their questions with that polite opener. My wife recalls that years ago, before every teen had a mobile phone, doubtful kids would always begin “Bonjour madame” when asking for the time. 

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A mark of respect

The interesting question is why do the French expect a “Bonjour” before opening a conversation? Is it simply that French is a more formal language? 

Perhaps a deeper analysis could suggest Republican France has carried on the ancien régime requirement of showing respect to your interlocutor.

It does seem a rather noble thing, if a little old-fashioned to those who cut off the King’s head as early as January 1649. 

The notion of Republican France as old-fashioned seems itself anachronous, but charming in a good sense. 

For hardened city youths to continue to address their elders with “Bonjour Madame/Monsieur” cannot be regarded as anything less than a positive in a world where such politesse diminishes by the day. 

That the suburbs of La Haine stick to this sign of respect is a hopeful thing.