Where do table manners come from?

Answer 1

Good question. There are various origins.

First of all, table manners in the middle ages (in Europe) were spelt out in inns and taverns where those sharing food at the same table were told what (not) to do in order to make sure each customer got his share.

At a later stage, table manners became refined (esp with the invention of elaborate cutlery and table wear). Then stress was laid on inoffensive behaviour (such as: you should not wipe your mouth with a part of the table cloth).

Later still (and since only the rich could afford richly laid tables) these manners trickled down onto the upper middle class, then the lower middle class and eventually onto the upper and lower working class, losing bits and pieces on the way.

Some table manners have to do with basic hygiene such as washing your hands, or with safety: you should not lick a knife.

Nowadays, with the world being multicultural and intercultural exchanges, table manners have to be learnt depending on where you are and which cultures you will meet in order not to offend the people you visit.

Adding to that: table manners have evolved also using what was available or what was logical. cutlery wasn't available in the ancient far east, but wood was. so chop-sticks were used. the same for countries like Saudi Arabia where nothing much was available, except your own hands, so eating with your (right) hand was the norm there. from there table manners evolved further: where to put your chop-sticks, which hand to use when eating (not your left one, but the right one only), ...