The kitchen is the heart of the home. And the kitchen table is the main piece of the interior. And the attitude towards him should be special.
Nowadays, the tablecloth on the dining table can be seen less and less. Preference is given to minimalism, besides, an uncoated tabletop is easier to clean: wiped the table after eating – and order. And the tablecloth will have to be washed.
But it was not always so. Previously, the table was considered almost a sacred object, it was carefully chosen, and the hostess had to look after it as one of the most expensive things in the house. And even now, on the table, you can say a lot about the character of the hostess.
And we have collected the reasons why the tablecloth should be laid on the table not only on holidays.
Respect symbol
For a long time, food was considered a gift of God, which means that eating was a whole ritual, in which all the components were correct: dishes, and a meal, and a table with a tablecloth. Even the crumbs that fell on the table were not thrown either on the floor or in the trash. They were treated with attention and respect: after dinner, the tablecloth was rolled up and shaken out in the yard so that the crumbs would go to the poultry for food. People believed that with such a careful attitude to each crumb, they would never fall into God’s disfavor. Hence the tales of a self-assembled tablecloth, on which food never ends!
The ancestors also believed that the table is the palm of the Lord, and they never knocked on it, but expressed respect with a clean and beautiful tablecloth. People believed that linen was a symbol of unification, therefore, a tablecloth made of it would help to avoid disagreements in the family.
To a smooth life
Another sign about this part of the kitchen decoration: if the hostess covers the table with a tablecloth, then her life will be smooth and even. It was believed that without a fabric cover, furniture looks scanty, poor, empty, which also symbolizes the fact that everything is exactly the same in the life of the spouses. That is why women tried to decorate their tablecloths, embroider patterns and designs on them, always keep them clean and tidy.
Tablecloth and money
There is also a sign that a table without a tablecloth means a lack of money. And if you don’t scare the spouses with signs about a happy life in the absence of this table attribute, then finance is a more powerful motivator! Those who especially believed in omens even put money under the canvas: it was believed that the larger they were, the more carefree life would be.
Not only money was hidden under the tablecloth: if there was no food in the house, but guests suddenly appeared, the hostess put a knife under the fabric and believed that such a ceremony would help the guests to eat little, but at the same time quickly gorge themselves. Conversely, if the family was expecting guests, but they were late, the hostess slightly shook the tablecloth, and the guests, as if by magic, were right there!
By the way
As a gift, the tablecloth was given only to the closest and dearest people. Such a gift meant a wish for well-being, prosperity, success in life and family. And even after the wedding, the newly-made wife laid a tablecloth brought from her home on the table and did not take it off for several days. This small ritual helped the daughter-in-law to quickly join the new family.