In modern society it is very important to know rules of conduct at a table because many business matters are resolved exactly here, or just sometimes there is a wish to arrange a sumptuous feast, having invited relatives, friends. Therefore to ignore etiquette at a table today – it is just impossible.
By the way, the word etiquette arose in France several centuries ago. Then at one of kings to his grandees and guests so-called labels where there was a set of rules of behavior at a table were distributed.
Of course, in various countries there are nuances, but, in general, there are general rules of conduct at a table which each cultural person has to know.
The general rules of conduct at a table
The first that needs to be known, where to sit down. If this family celebration, here at everyone is the constant place. If it is a business banquet, it is necessary to remember that places on the right and to the left of the hostess and the host who, by the way, have to sit opposite to each other are considered as honourable. When everyone learned the place, all stand and wait, the hostess will not sit down yet.
If you eat in cafe, restaurant, other public place, then the best places of the man are obliged to concede to women. All ware naturally has to be clean. To take plates, dishes, all devices it is necessary from below, at the same time supporting for edge by a thumb. It is impossible to touch by food fingers at all!
How to give food?
Any dish needs to be brought closely to a plate in order that on a cloth nothing dripped.
Behind a separate dumbwaiter pour soup, and it is exclusive in soup plates.
Fish, roast, vegetables, snack and also sweet cookies and candies need to be served at the left.
As for coffee and tea, these drinks should be poured on the right. The guest has an opportunity itself to put to himself necessary amount of sugar and cream, to the taste.
After guests ate, according to etiquette, put away ware which was already used to the right of sitting the right hand.
Etiquette at a table
Rules of conduct at a table concern not only the hostess and the owner who organize an action, but also and guests.
Only after already began to serve the dishes, the guest can remove a napkin from a plate and put it to himself on knees, without filling for a collar.
It is necessary to sit at a table on all seat, having slightly bent forward.
At a conversation with the neighbor, it is not necessary to turn all trunk, it is enough to turn the head.
You should not extend legs under a table. Elbows on a table also do not hold, press them to a body.
If during a meal, the stone, a stone, a cartilage got to you – lower them on a spoon, a fork lips then – put on edge of a plate.
After you ate, wipe a napkin of companies and if in it there is a need, hands. Then it needs to be put to the left of your plate.
Put a knife and a fork after the termination of a meal camber down in parallel each other on a plate. At the same time their handles have to "look" to the right.
Rules of conduct at the holiday table
Rules of conduct at the holiday table differ in nothing from the general rules except that here the hostess can show imagination – originally to decorate a table. To put snow-white or any other interesting cloth, to issue figures from napkins a table, somehow uncommonly to decorate the house.
There are some sets of rules of behavior at a table which arose in the last centuries, reading which now – it is impossible to refrain from laughter. Comic rules of conduct at a table, actually, have under themselves the background – hygiene, expediency and many other things. Just today we so already got used to modern etiquette that last attempts to enshrine all this in laws seem to us amusing.
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