How long is lunch break in France?
In France and Switzerland it is customary to have a cooked meal for lunch, even if more and more people now have snacks. The lunch break, which lasts about an hour, takes place between 12pm and 2pm.
In food-loving France, the lunch break can last around two hours. The French are known to take time with their food, and they believe it's important to take a break in order to enjoy one of life's most important pleasures (we agree).
| Country | Lunch Break Duration |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 48 minutes |
| Malaysia | 47 minutes |
| Japan | 46 minutes |
| Portugal | 44 minutes |
In fact, a survey this week found that 43 percent of French people spend over 45 minutes eating lunch each day. This was by far the biggest percentage for the extended break of all 14 countries surveyed.
Those who work in China eat and nap between noon and 2 p.m. Employers believe in electric naps and therefore allow workers to take 30-minute naps. In France, retailers generally close between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. This period is considered the universal time for lunch break for working adults and schoolchildren.
While 20 minutes for lunch might not seem unorthodox in the States, an hour or even an hour and a half is not uncommon in France. Fans of the custom say it's healthier for workers than staring at a screen all day, and that it promotes more productivity because it refreshes employees.
In France and Switzerland it is customary to have a cooked meal for lunch, even if more and more people now have snacks. The lunch break, which lasts about an hour, takes place between 12pm and 2pm.
China: 2 hours
Workers in China receive a lunch break between noon and 2 p.m., starting with a quick lunch followed by a nap. The idea of the power nap is catching on in the country, according to a 2014 NBC article: Factories allow workers to indulge in naps of 30 minutes or less.
It is in the evening, for dinner, that French restaurants often pull out all the stops. Even on weekdays, an eating out in the evening can often be a long-drawn-out affair, and diners can easily spend between two and three hours at the table.
The Italian lunch break, known as a riposo, pisolino or pennichella depending on where you are in Italy, usually lasts several hours between noon and 4 p.m. for most (via So Yummy). During this time, they can eat a large leisurely lunch of three or four courses.
Do French go home for lunch?
Lunch. The French school lunch break usually lasts at least one and a half hours. Students can either eat at the school canteen or go home for lunch during the break. It is possible for children with food allergies to bring a packed lunch, provided they have a doctor's note.
Greece has the shortest break at 19 minutes, followed by Poland and Spain, the latter being home to the beloved midday siesta. Seventy-four percent of U.S. respondents say they always get a lunch break, regardless of how many hours they've worked.
Meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable.
The Chinese people usually work between 08:00 and 18:00 each day, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00. However, local variations may occur due to the time difference or policy in different cities. For instance, the working day in Xinjiang usually starts from 09:00 or 10:00 due to its longitude.
Breakfast around 8:00 AM. Lunch at noon. Dinner at 7:00 or 8:00 in the evening. Children have an afternoon snack (sweet not savory) at around 4:00 PM.
The average from the 10 European nations surveyed is 33 minutes, three minutes shorter than the U.S.' 36 minutes. Greece has the shortest break at 19 minutes, followed by Poland and Spain, the latter being home to the beloved midday siesta.
Why is it Forbidden to Eat Lunch at Work in France? : Rough Translation In 2021, France suspended a law that forbids eating lunch at work. We talk to an American teacher relieved to see it go and a French historian determined to bring it back.
Historians believe it originated to give farmers time to rest and restore energy in hot climates, but now Spain, Italy and other European countries use the midday pause to go home, eat a leisurely lunch with family and often nap.
In many countries, taking your time over a meal is pretty normal, according to data released by the OECD. People in France tend to spend the most time eating and drinking per day on average at 2 hours and 13 minutes. Their neighbors in Italy and Spain aren't too far behind, averaging more than two hours per day.
