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What's the most interesting traditional or formal politeness behaviour or table manners in your culture? Or for any service personnel, in your restaurant? (kbin.social)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I love all the ritualized behaviour, secret meanings and unexpected taboos - standing up when someone of higher status stands, elaborate rules for serving and eating, tapping the table to thank the server, never refuse a toast from a superior, stuff like that.

Whether it's about meals or anything else, I'd love to hear about any uncommon politeness standard or similar social behaviour that goes on in your location, culture or restaurant!

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[–] Waker 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

I feel like this is a global thing but here it goes When serving dinner the women are served first, then the men. They do this from oldest to youngest.

So, first person to get food/wine/water/wtv served is the oldest woman, and the last person to be served is the youngest man...

Edit: I got the tittle wrong I thought it was only formal setting stuff. This is only done in very formal settings. Like an extremely important ceremony on the military branches of my country for instance.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

We don't do that here (UK), there's no order in which people are served their food. It doesn't really matter, as it's "polite" here to only start once everyone has got their food.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think it might depend on the level of formality; pretty sure in very formal British ettiquette it goes clockwise from the person to the right of the host.

I don't really understand how they would be able to know the age of everyone like @Waker describes though.

[–] Waker 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

No one is going to behead you if you get the ages wrong for some reason.

But as you said, it's only done in very very formal situations. Usually army/navy/airforce dinners and such. You almost never see it anywhere else.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Interesting! What part of the world do you live in, if you don't mind me asking?

[–] Waker 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Portugal

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Thanks, this is good to know!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

With invited people first where I live.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Global

Prioritising women

That's a hard no from me dawg