- What to Do:
- Use of Utensils: The use of utensils in the Middle Ages varied, with knives being the most common tool for eating. Forks were not widely used until the Renaissance, so most people ate with their hands or with a knife and spoon. Noble guests were expected to use utensils with grace and care, avoiding any rude or hasty actions.
- Table Manners: Proper table manners included not speaking with your mouth full and not reaching across the table to grab food. Instead, guests were expected to wait for food to be passed to them.
- Posture: It was important to sit up straight at the table. Slouching or leaning over one's food was seen as disrespectful.
- Use of Utensils: The use of utensils in the Middle Ages varied, with knives being the most common tool for eating. Forks were not widely used until the Renaissance, so most people ate with their hands or with a knife and spoon. Noble guests were expected to use utensils with grace and care, avoiding any rude or hasty actions.
- What Not to Do:
- Loud Eating or Drinking: Slurping, chewing loudly, or making noise while eating was considered vulgar and inappropriate, particularly among the nobility.
- Indecent Behavior: Boasting, fighting, or engaging in rowdy behavior was frowned upon at the table. Meals were social occasions for polite conversation, and inappropriate conduct could lead to disgrace.
- Wasting Food: Wasting food, especially for the upper classes, was seen as a lack of respect for the resources and labor that went into preparing the meal.
- Loud Eating or Drinking: Slurping, chewing loudly, or making noise while eating was considered vulgar and inappropriate, particularly among the nobility.
Respect for Religion and the Church
Religion played a central role in the lives of people during the Middle Ages, and this was reflected in their manners and behavior. Christians were expected to follow the teachings of the Church, and their etiquette was often rooted in religious principles.
- What to Do:
- Prayers and Blessings: Before meals, it was customary to say a prayer. At social gatherings, people were expected to respect religious customs, including observing fasts and attending Mass on holy days.
- Respect for Religious Figures: Bishops, monks, and priests were given great deference. Bowing, standing when they entered a room, and addressing them with titles of respect were all part of proper conduct.
- Prayers and Blessings: Before meals, it was customary to say a prayer. At social gatherings, people were expected to respect religious customs, including observing fasts and attending Mass on holy days.
- What Not to Do:
- Blasphemy or Disrespect: Swearing or making fun of religious symbols, figures, or customs was considered a grave offense. The church was not only a place of worship but also a source of authority, and to disrespect it was to risk social ostracism.
- Breaking Fast: Breaking religious fasts by eating or drinking during the designated periods was considered sinful and disrespectful. The fasts were not merely dietary rules but moral guidelines for proper living. shutdown123