Scrolling through Facebook one sees a lot of posts from family and friends baking and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. #Lockdown2020 will definitely be remembered by many for spending a lot of family time around the dining table.
But did you know it wasn’t until the 16th century that dining room tables really became popular? The word itself is derived from the Latin tabula, meaning plank, board, or flat piece. Although many types of tables had been around since ancient times, they were not the dining room tables we know today – just think about King Arthur and his famed round table.
As tables evolved, they became more diversified and the dining table as such had its origin during the Middle Ages. The earliest kind of dining table is thought to have been the trestle kind which could be taken apart when not in use, a practice that survives in the expression “set the table”.
It was also during the medieval times that the concept of eating together while assembled at dining room tables originated. At that time, when the only utensils used at the table were spoons and knives, hosts did not provide the place settings. Instead, those attending a meal were expected to bring their own utensils. Food was prepared and placed in the centre of the table and guests would help themselves. Whatever scraps they didn’t want were thrown to the ground, where dogs and cats would eat them. Napkins had not yet been invented, so guests simply wiped their hands on the hem of the tablecloth.
The fork first appeared in Italy during the Renaissance, but not without a lot of resistance. The Church initially protested this utensil because it was perceived as somewhat vulgar and an insult to God. It was only in 1633 when Charles I of England magnanimously declared, “It is decent to use a fork,” that forks found their rightful place at the dining table and people no longer used their hands to eat with.
Through the years, dining tables became smaller as the nobility began to prefer more intimate gatherings. Today dining tables are mostly used for formal occasions, and meals are more often eaten in the kitchen, breakfast nook, or even in the family room.
And although the setting of tables has progressed over time, the importance of people gathering to eat together remains the same. Bon appétit! Stay safe.
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