Why do Americans get the habit of putting their feet on the table?

Every nation has interesting and unusual traditions that cause slight bewilderment and sometimes even anger in other people. One of the characteristics of Americans that irritates Arabs, Europeans, and Russians too is the habit of putting their feet on the table. What is contained in it? An attempt to show complacency or a simple desire for comfort?

Shocking or normal?

Cinema is a great thing that allows you to demonstrate your values ​​and way of life to the whole world. Hollywood has churned out a huge number of different films in which we see how a tired cowboy comes to a saloon and demonstratively puts his feet on the table with a quickdraw. What about the bosses of large corporations? In the frame you can see shoes worth several thousand dollars and the satisfied face of a successful businessman.

There are two main versions of the origin of this, in our opinion, shocking habit:

1. Cavalrymen, cowboys and people who have been in the saddle for a long time need to unload their legs and ease blood flow. I completely agree! Try going on a horse riding tour for a few days yourself! Out of habit, even after several hours on horseback, you forget about the rules of decency. In addition, the Wild West was not distinguished by excessive moralism: different people went to the New World from Europe.The poor strived for a better life, and not all of them were familiar with etiquette... Now another problem arises - sitting in an office chair every day is also not an easy task, and in this way Americans fight fatigue and stagnation of blood in the legs.
2. Cleanliness on the street, the desire for comfort and demonstration of one’s own success. Many who have traveled around America note that the roads are regularly washed, there is no ubiquitous dust, and there shoes actually remain clean after a walk, allowing you to put your feet up on the table in the office. Of course, subordinates do not do this in the presence of their boss, but at friendly gatherings they calmly sit comfortably.

Cultural differences have more than once caused scandals at the international level, as the peculiarities of the American way of life were clearly demonstrated by presidents during negotiations with representatives of other nations with different customs.

A photograph of Barack Obama talking on the phone with the Israeli prime minister caused genuine bewilderment in the country, turning into indignation. The Israelis regarded the pose as an insult to the country.

But Americans don’t give up their habits!

Marfan syndrome: a scientific explanation for an unusual tradition

I found a very interesting hypothesis: S. V. Bagotsky in 2009 wrote an article “About races, nations, Uncle Sam and Odessa-Mama”, it was published in the ninth issue of “Chemistry and Life” for that year.

During the times of the USSR and caricatures of American imperialism, artists depicted Uncle Sam (symbolizing the USA) as thin, with incredibly long legs. His pants were painted in the colors of the US flag. In part, this image referred to real characters!

Not many settlers came from Europe in the 17th century.There is an assumption that among them there were people with a rather severe hereditary disease, Marfan syndrome. What is this? To explain it briefly and simply, it is a gene mutation. People with Marfan syndrome are tall, have heart defects, lens subluxation, and long limbs. In cases where the illness is mild, such people have an amazing capacity for work!

The body structure of such people does not allow them to sit comfortably at a table, so it is easier for them to put their feet up on the table. And then the imitation effect works! Seeing a millionaire sitting comfortably and showing off the perfect shoes makes everyone want to feel like a boss.

It turns out that this habit is the norm and has a right to exist? Yes, sure! It improves blood flow, facilitates circulation and even prevents varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. Besides, if everyone around treats such manifestations absolutely calmly, then why not?

Interesting fact. President Abraham Lincoln can be cited as evidence of success - he just had such a chromosomal “breakdown”.