' (, literally 'five to seven') is a French-language term for activities taking place after work and before returning home (sometimes using

overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways: *by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...

as an excuse), or having dinner (roughly between 5 and 7 p.m.). It may also be written as ' or ''5@7''.

In Quebec

Quebec French Quebec French ( ), also known as Québécois French, is the predominant variety (linguistics), variety of the French language spoken in Canada. It is the dominant language of the province of Quebec, used in everyday communication, in education, ...

, the term stands for a social gathering. It may bring together friends or colleagues or may be organized around a specific event, such as a book launch or

vernissage A vernissage (from French, originally meaning "varnishing") is a preview of an art exhibition, which may be private, before the formal opening. If the vernissage is not open to the public, but only to invited guests, it is often called a '' pr ...

. Wine, beer, and cocktails are served along with finger foods and other hors d'oeuvres. Such a party held later may be named for the specific time (e.g. , meaning "six to eight"). A can be a formal gathering held in a wide range of public and private spaces, such as

art galleries An art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. In Western cultures from the mid-15th century, a gallery was any long, narrow covered passage along a wall, first used in the sense of a place for art in the 1590s. The long ...

, university campuses, and places of work, but it is also commonly used more informally as a promotion in bars to attract patrons. The English equivalent might be a semi-formal "wine and cheese" gathering or an informal "

happy hour Happy hour is a marketing term for a time when a venue such as a restaurant or bar offers reduced prices on alcoholic drinks. Discounted menu items like appetizers are often served during happy hour. This is a way for bars and restaurants to ...

In France

' originally referred to a time for a tryst, and consequently is a

metonym Metonymy () is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something associated with that thing or concept. For example, the word "wikt:suit, suit" may refer to a person from groups commonly wearing business attire, such ...

for a visit to one's mistress, an

extramarital affair An affair is a relationship typically between two people, one or both of whom are either married or in a long-term monogamous or emotionally-exclusive relationship with someone else. The affair can be solely sexual, solely physical or solely em ...

, and the mistress involved. It derived from the time of day French people would make such a visit. It is still commonly considered as the time of day to meet one's mistress or lover, and the term implies a sexual liaison (as opposed to the Québécois habit).

References

Eating parties Culture of Quebec Drinking culture Canadian cuisine High society (social class) Upper class culture in Canada Upper class culture in Europe {{Canada-cuisine-stub