When not to eat with a fork

A fork is a necessary but not always appropriate cutlery. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about traditions and basic rules of etiquette. And they continue to use it, demonstrating bad taste. To prevent this from happening to you, we’ll tell you when you shouldn’t ask the hostess or waiter for a fork.

when not to eat with a fork

Funeral table: forks are prohibited

Many traditions have the deepest roots and this makes them seem incomprehensible to many of our contemporaries. Why, for example, is only a spoon served at a dinner in honor of a person who has passed away? Indeed, there will be no sharp objects at the wake.

Initially, people held a funeral dinner right above the grave. Over time, this ritual was transferred to the table. I wonder what the church does not prohibit the use of forks and knives at funerals. However, until now, only a spoon can be found on the funeral table. Where did this tradition come from? There are several reasons for this.

funeral table

The funeral menu did not require a fork

The first version is quite logical. The meal consisted of three dishes: kutia, pancakes and jelly. To eat kutya, you needed a spoon. It was customary to take pancakes with your hands. And for the third, all you needed was a glass. The fork and knife were absent from the table as unnecessary.

Reference. Kutia is a porridge made from wheat (later rice) and honey.

Sharp objects could hurt the soul

The second version is rooted in paganism. At that time, it was customary to leave all piercing and cutting objects outside the room where the funeral meal was held. Esotericists later explained it this way. Sharp objects can hurt the soul, which is located near the table at the wake.

Sign of "demonicism"

The third version has also reached us through millennia. In ancient times, forks were also considered demonic because they resembled the devil's trident.

trident

Forks began to appear in Rus' during the reign of Peter I, who brought this innovation from Europe. By the way, the common people believed that the king wanted to destroy their souls, and completely rejected these devices.

To ensure that the wake is without injury

In addition, do not forget about domestic fights. The division of property could begin right at the funeral table, especially if the deceased was wealthy.

In this case, the absence of piercing and cutting objects at the table significantly reduced the likelihood of severe injuries and deaths.

As we can see, our ancestors had enough reasons to ban forks at funerals. But we don’t eat them during the funeral dinner, continuing the tradition. We do this, most likely, paying tribute to the memory of previous generations.

When else should you put down the fork?

Funerals are not the only occasion when you have to do without a fork. When you find yourself in a restaurant or visiting, you should also not always reach for this cutlery. But now it all depends on the dishes served.

First course

Of course, the first thing to note is the first courses. They are eaten exclusively with a spoon. Few people would think of using a fork; it’s simply inconvenient and impractical.

first dish and spoon

Soft-boiled egg

It is unlikely that you will order an egg in a restaurant. But you can get it for breakfast at the hotel. Soft-boiled eggs are often served on special stands.You need to carefully break the top part with a teaspoon and eat it with it. It is customary to hold quail eggs with your hands.

soft-boiled egg eaten with a spoon

Reference. For omelettes or fried eggs, use forks.

Meat, game

When serving meat dishes, try to use cutlery to the maximum. The exception is game (grouse, partridges). Her allowed to eat with hands. The main thing is to remember to rinse your fingers or wipe them with a napkin after eating.

Seafood

Be careful when ordering seafood: crabs, lobsters and shrimps. Handling a crab shell with a fork is at least inconvenient. You will look stupid and out of place.

It can be used after you finish cutting.

Dessert

Some dessert dishes require the use of a teaspoon. A sharp instrument is inappropriate here! Such dishes include ice cream, soft desserts and mousses.

dessert and spoon

As you can see, there are few rules prohibiting the use of sharp cutlery. This means that you won’t have to blush when you reach for a fork when you’re not supposed to use it.

Comments and feedback:

Those. Don’t you even realize that cakes and similar desserts are eaten with a fork? Well, yes, in all my childhood they picked the cake with a spoon or even with their hand - and into the mouth

author
Svetlana

The cake is eaten with a spoon. And don't argue.

author
Victor

Sir, you are an ignoramus: A dessert spoon should be on the table if you are serving mousse, pudding, fruit in syrup, berries with cream, as well as other dishes that do not require cutting

author
Vittorio

With our government there would be something to eat, but there’s nothing to eat with a spoon or a fork. And it tastes even better with your hands.

author
Basil

They don’t eat anything with a teaspoon. Just use a teaspoon to stir the tea, trying not to rattle, and place it on a saucer. Dessert is eaten with a DESSERT spoon. And cakes, pies, strudels, etc. They eat it with a dessert fork, cutting off small pieces with a spoon. You are not supposed to eat cakes with a spoon. By the way, in German cuisine there are soups with sausages. At the same time, a couple of boiled sausages are placed in a bowl of soup. And this dish is served not only with a spoon, but also with a fork and knife. So everything is not so simple. Yes, and you can remove mussels from their shells with a fork.

author
Artanis

And I didn’t say that the cake is eaten with a DESSERT spoon.

author
Victor

By the way, homemade dumplings are also eaten with a spoon so that the juice does not leak out.

author
Veronica

and I really wanted soup with a fork)))) and damn it’s prohibited. and we keep it simple - everything is done with a spoon. fewer problems - more food will go to waste.... there is no time to stand on ceremony. 15 minutes for lunch

author
Maria

For dumplings - a dessert spoon, for cake and fruit - a dessert fork + dessert knife.

author
Veronica

I agree - a spoon is much faster. Yes, and more convenient.

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Victor

Bad fabrications of the poorly educated and illiterate.The bulk of the population were peasants - very uneducated, poor, uncultured, illiterate - in the Middle Ages in Poland they were called - bydlo - that is, cattle!! These cattle blew their nose into their shirts, never washed their butts after defecation (they washed only once a week in the bathhouse), slept side by side, ate with their faces, with their hands, and with whatever they had to (they ate like cattle and did not eat, no one taught them manners) - and from the Russians For men, the only cutlery was a WOODEN spoon, cut from a piece of wood and always carried with them - in the top of a boot, next to a foot that had not been washed for weeks. After eating, she licked her lips and pushed herself back by the boot!! (((((This is about these people - who have been creating traditions for centuries - to eat and shit from the same dishes - including those who create funeral traditions of the PEOPLE - did you expect them to habitually eat something EXCEPT - spoons from the top?? ? So they didn’t know - ANYTHING except this spoon!! Only one in a thousand was allowed into the master’s house - and not during a meal, so for the people, a fork is like a flying saucer, if one in a thousand heard, then certainly no one saw) ))) Therefore, in folk funeral traditions there can be nothing but an unwashed spoon in a boot!!!

author
Human

Are you sure you chose the right nickname? Somehow doubtful...

author
Oleg

They say there is such a very effective Chinese diet for weight loss. You can only use empty broth. And only with chopsticks.

author
Oleg

People used to be called parasites! And now BLOGGERS! You read such ignorant nonsense and understand - a parasite wrote it!

author
Svetozar

Washing machines

Vacuum cleaners

Coffee makers