Why does France have a 2 hour lunch break?

It begs the question - why exactly are the French so keen on their long lunch breaks? Thibaut de Saint Pol, sociologist at the Ecole normale supéreure de Cachan, says that lunch time is just traditionally more important in France than in other countries. Meals are the most enjoyable moments of the day.



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Yes, it is common for French people to eat lunch together in the office, especially in larger companies or in more formal workplaces. In France, the midday meal is typically considered the main meal of the day, and it is often eaten together with colleagues or friends.

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Spain remains one of the few countries in Europe to continue the tradition of long lunches, and Barcelona nearly shuts down for several hours during the afternoon for siesta. After all, an indulgent mid-day meal often requires a post-feast nap.

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Why do they eat so late in Spain? Spain's famously late mealtimes are due to the fact that the country has been geographically in the wrong time zone since World War II! During all that time, Spaniards have eaten at the same time they always have in regards to the position of the sun in the sky.

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As a result, Spaniards who would eat at 1pm or 1.30pm continued to eat at their usual time (now 2pm or 2.30pm), continued to have dinner at 8pm (now 9pm) and continued to go to bed at 11pm (now midnight).

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Lunch: 2–3:30 p.m. Merienda (Mid-afternoon snack): 5–6:30 p.m. Aperitif: 8–10 p.m. Dinner: 9–11 p.m.

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