Title – Name
The Gastronomic Meal of the French
Scope / Sector / Industry
Protection of intangible cultural heritage and gastronomy
Country / Region
France
Why is it good practice?
The ¨Gastronomic Meal of the French¨ (GMF) is an important initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France, for the dissemination and protection of the country’s gastronomic tradition. The French State, based on the popular French gastronomic culture and the already existing gastronomic initiatives implemented in the country, prepared and submitted a proposal for inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, which not only promotes this tradition, but creates a even stronger and authentic tourism product, which is learned, supported and promoted by the whole community, bringing long-term benefits to it.
How is it applied?
The French Mission for Cultural Heritage and Food (FMCHF), with the support of the French state, in 2010 submitted a nomination file for the GMF to be included in the list of intangible cultural heritage elements of UNESCO.
All started when the European Institute of Food History and Culture (EIFHC), an association that brings together hundreds of members in France, launched its effort to register various expressions and practices of the French food heritage in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In this context, the EIFHC sought to consult the French community about its support for such an initiative and the result of this effort was a very wide show of support and commitment, encouraging the Institute to publicize the nomination process of a social practice that is loved by all French and expresses their common identity: the gastronomic meal.
After the strong support of the community, the non-profit organization called “French Mission for Cultural Heritage and Food” was founded by EIFHC and prepared the nomination file with the support of the French State. The process was accompanied by the implementation of participatory information meetings and discussions throughout the country, by community representatives, helping to collect the information required to draw up a coherent plan of measures to preserve the gastronomic meal and its rituals.
The French people and their representatives were closely and continuously involved in every stage of the preparation of the nomination file. Consent for the proposal submission was given by representative bodies of the French State, in accordance with the country’s legal framework (e.g. the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Union of French Regions, the Assembly of the French Departments, the Association of Mayors of France, the Association of Cities Mayors in France, etc.), as well as unions and associations that operate with the aim of keeping alive the gastronomic meal, its rituals and values.
From the above participation and all the relevant research that was carried out, the idea for the GMF emerged. According to it, the French gastronomic meal is a common social practice to celebrate important moments in the lives of individuals and groups, such as births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, achievements and reunions. It is a celebratory meal that brings people together and at the same time gives an opportunity to enjoy the art of good food and drink. This very popular practice, with which all French people are familiar, has flourished in France for centuries and continues to be transmitted.
This social practice is linked to a common vision, that of good nutrition and is not necessarily linked to specific dishes. Its homogeneity throughout the community stems mainly from the meaning it imparts, namely companionship, appreciation of others, enjoyment of taste, balance between people and the products of nature, as well as specific rituals it follows, including searching for good products, the variety of recipes, the gastronomic know-how, setting a beautiful table, pairing food and wine and discussing the dishes.
According to the proposal, the gastronomic meal brings family members and friends closer and, in general, strengthens social bonds. It is an important point of reference for identity and gives rise to feelings of belonging and continuity.
Today, the GMF has a viable presence in France, as French gastronomy is supported by various initiatives, which can now be aligned with that of the GMF. The following are examples of such initiatives:
a) Since the end of the 1980s, an inventory of the heritage related to local products and traditional know-how has already begun in France, resulting in the compilation and publication of the ¨Inventory of the French Culinary Heritage¨.
b) Since 2000, important initiatives have been developed in the field of education and scientific research, which produce a wider knowledge of the social practice, history and representations of the gastronomic meal.
c) Children’s awareness has been realized through the annual organization of “Taste Week”, during which children learn about the combination of tastes, the enjoyment of taste and the choice of the right product.
d) The support from the state of the actions of FMCHF, which develops research actions of gastronomic traditions and heritage.
e) French local authorities regularly organize gastronomic meals to celebrate important moments of members of specific groups, such as an annual meal in honor of the elderly or a meal for the birthday of the oldest person in a village. In France, all popular and festive events that take place at a local or national level are systematically accompanied by a gastronomic meal that brings together all the organizers and participants.
f) Many media, including press, radio, television, blogs, forums and internet sites, explore the gastronomic meal in its historical, social and cultural context. They contribute to the transmission of its rituals and show the attachment of the French to this element of their heritage.
However, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the GMF and to transmit the gastronomic taste and tradition to future generations, new measures were proposed in the nomination file which focused on formal transmission through education, research, awareness-raising and informing as many people as possible and of strengthening intercultural dialogue through international cooperation. The measures proposed were the following:
1. Transmission of knowledge through education
Through the French education system, but also in community centers that provide after-school activities, it has been proposed to create programs with the participation of families, so-called “discovery workshops” that aim to discover the tradition of the gastronomic meal. Through the preparation and consumption of meals on a regular basis in primary schools, the aim is to engage students, with teachers, support staff and parents, foster companionship, enjoy taste and learn the rituals of the gastronomic meal, including the selection of the right products, using the wide variety of recipes and setting a beautiful table. In the case of community centers, this transmission of knowledge by older people is enhanced.
2. Development of documentation and research
As part of the development of research around the GMF, the French State proceeded with an inventory and collection of intangible cultural heritage, such as recording of actions and know-how, festive celebrations, oral expressions such as proverbs and songs, performances in literature and images, as well as objects. Such documents, from the archives of families, companies and media were proposed to be gathered in a digital repository, enhancing the visibility and transmission of the practices and rituals that make up the gastronomic meal.
In addition, the state, wishing to encourage research on the gastronomic meal and its socio-cultural context, proposed in the file the establishment, in agreement with the National Center for Scientific Research, of a “Joint Research Unit for Food and Culinary Heritage and Cultures”, whose main purpose will be the study of the gastronomic meal. This research unit was proposed to be located in a specific university in France, which has pursued many related projects and has branches in other universities in the country in order to create a national network. The team of professors and researchers was proposed to be composed of experts in various disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, while at the same time, the creation of a UNESCO chair and network on food heritage and practices, linking universities around the world was proposed.
3. Awareness and information
In the context of awareness and information, the French State, in collaboration with all interested private and public bodies, has proposed to consider the creation of a multidisciplinary cultural facility, national and international in scope, which will contribute to public awareness of the history, values of the meal, as well as its experimentations in France and the world. This cultural facility could be a living space that, through educational, artistic and other activities such as workshops, publishing production, exhibitions, meetings and discussions, promotes a better understanding of the cultural and social practice of the gastronomic meal of the French, its rituals and, more broadly, of the communities traditional foods around the world.
It was also suggested that major national cultural events include a gastronomic meal in their content. In this context, the French State intends to expand the popular annual event “European Heritage Days”.
In addition, the nomination file provided for the development and broadcast of a television program to raise public awareness.
4. Establishment of a special body to monitor safeguarding measures
In addition, it was proposed that the FMCHF operate as an agency to ensure the monitoring of the above measures, informing the state authority of any possible threat about the registration of the GMF in the UNESCO Representative List.
5. Strengthening international cooperation
This measure seeks to transmit expertise, documentation and knowledge from the French State and actively participate in the promotion of social practices and ritual meals as important manifestations of cultural diversity.
Where is it applied?
The GMF is an initiative that seeks the active participation of the French community in the promotion of its gastronomy (residents, entrepreneurs, agencies and organizations), while the results of its implementation concerns the country’s visitors who wish to experience authentic French gastronomy, food and drinks.
When did it applied?
The submission of the GMF’s proposal for its inclusion in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage took place in 2010.
Results
The results of this initiative are multiple and the following are indicative:
- Identity and intangible cultural heritage protection of France.
- French cultural diversity promotion through gastronomy.
- French community pride enhancement.
- Local agricultural production enhancement.
- Further economic benefits for the country’s entrepreneurs.
- Understanding and respecting the diversity of communities, cultures and peoples.
Other Information
In a 2009 survey concerning food habits, the French showed a strong interest in the gastronomic meal and a desire to preserve and transfer their heritage. 95.2% of them consider the gastronomic meal to be part of their heritage and identity and 98.7% state that it should be preserved and handed down to future generations. In fact, many of them expressed their desire to participate in the implementation of the proposed measures of the file.
The official website for the Gastronomic Meal of the French is: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/gastronomic-meal-of-the-french-00437
