How has mealtime etiquette changed since medieval times?

Answer 1

Medieval people were guided by a desire not to act proud and to be clean. Through part of the Middle Ages, noble lords and their servants all shared meals at a common table. Since they did not know anything at all about how disease spread, their cleanliness did not prevent them from using common eating utensils and cups. They often ate with their fingers, but they considered it to be polite to cut each other's food.

Plates and bowls were not always used, especially by poor people, and food was eaten directly off the table. Sometimes people ate from a common plate or bowl, around which they gathered, but it seems most often stale bread was used instead of a bowl for an individual. The bread was broken, scooped if necessary, and made into a trencher, which was then filled with soup or stew, which was eaten from there. When the soup or stew was done, the bread, which was now a wet sop, was eaten.

Medieval ladies of some times and places were very interested in appearing delicate and refined. When certain types of foods were being served, they sometimes retired to another room while men ate so they were not be seen with greasy fingers.

Later in the Middle Ages the idea of a common table was abandoned altogether and servants ate at a different time in a different room from their lords and ladies. This was condemned by the Church for a while, but became the norm anyway.

There is a link to the etiquette section of an article on medieval cuisine below.

Answer 2

In the Medieval times, the people used to wipe their hands on the table instead of using a napkin. Instead of using eating utensils, the people in Medieval Times would use their hands. Lastly, instead of throwing leftovers in the garbage or saving it for the next day, the people would just simply throw it under the table!

Answer 3

The Tudors did not actually use many manners. The King (Henry VIII) held drum sticks in his bare hands, but used a spoon for soup.The dogs in the house were used as wipers": it was supposed that using the dog's coat as a hand wiper kept the dog's coat shiny. Forks were on the dinner table, but they were used for spearing food, much like a harpoon is used. The napkin was used, but rather like a swipe of the face and fingers. Finger bowls were used. A finger bowl had clean, warm water in it, sometimes with floating flower petals, and they dipped their fingers in them during meals. Bread was held in the hands. Remember, in Tudor times, many people went hungry, other than the landed aristocrats. Hunger makes for poor table manners. I do not mean when you are ready for a meal: I mean when you NEED to eat to survive. And they often drank wine, as potable water was still suspect. Wine replaced water many times: Alcohol kills germs.

Answer 4

The manners were simply lack there-of manners. People in the 1500's usually did not care how that ate, as long as they got to eat. Not even the wealthy.

Answer 5

no