And “Bon appetit”? Essentially, appetite is a feeling of hunger, a desire to get enough. How can this feeling be good or bad? But there is also an explanation.
“With the prohibition in the Soviet Union to pray before meals, this expression replaced ‘Our Father’. And it does not carry any semantic meaning, ”international etiquette expert Albina Khoglova told Wday.ru.
It replaced, by the way, from France. They want a bon appetit there. And the French formulas in Russia have always been considered something refined and refined. But there are also nuances here. Even in France, not everyone and not everyone wished bon appetit. If people gathered at the same table, it was considered indecent to focus on the absorption of food. After all, they gathered in order to communicate, and not to stuff their bellies. So, try new delicious dishes, enjoy delicate flavors. Therefore, it was considered appropriate to say something like “Help yourself” or “I hope you enjoy the treat.” Strictly speaking, only the chef can wish a bon appetit to the guests of his restaurant.
It turns out that only the one who prepared this dish can have a bon appetit. For example, mom. Anyway, at home this expression is quite appropriate. But if we wish good digestion for our colleagues, then by doing so we invade their private zone, violating the boundaries of personality and the norms of decency.
What other “drinking” prohibitions are there:
– use a fork as a spatula when picking salad. You need to prick food onto the fork, not pick it up;
– to finish the soup to the bottom: knocking with a spoon is indecent;
– stir sugar in a circle: it is permissible to move the spoon back and forth;
– wipe your lips with a paper napkin – only with a cloth. Paper ones are needed to wipe the table if something spills.