My first night in France, I realized that I don’t eat the same way as the French. My grandmother is very strict about table manners, and according to American standards, my eating habits are very refined. But I Toulouse, I eat like a barbarian. I used my fork to stab my food whereas my host’s manner of eating didn’t resemble mine at all. She ate very delicately whereas I seemed uncouth. Today, I’m still a barbarian. I try to eat like the French, but the food always falls off my fork.
The influence of history is different in France. France boasts thousands of years of history, which the French duly remember. But the United States are a young country and have a shorter history. Americans can wander astray from historical traditions and culture with no great consequences. On the contrary, the French are forced to preserve their traditions and culture which have existed since Roman times. You can see the footprint of these eras on the French’s cultural practices.
Good manners date back to the Middle Ages, when people ate differently. During this time period, people only used their knife or dagger to eat. Eventually they started using spoons, but in the beginning they stabbed their food with a knife. Modernization during the Renaissance changed people’s habits, as they wanted to seem more refined to live in a world that read Aristotle, Socrates and other ancient intellectuals. Therefore, the fork was invented, but this event was neither the direct result of Aristotle or Socrates. The fork evolved because it allowed people to distinguish themselves as refined.
Today we use a fork and knife. But normally, the two stay in the eater’s hand for all types of food. In the United States, you can leave your knife on your plate while putting bites of food in your mouth. The French, however, don’t stab their food; they use their knife to slide their food onto their fork. The actions are a bit difficult, because (if you’re a righty) you have to keep your knife in your right hand and your fork in your left hand. In the United States, it’s different; you cut your fod with your right hand, but then when you eat, you can also use your right hand.
It’s just another small detail that points out that I’m a foreigner. The details of French culture are something I want to learn. These slices of culture and tradition define France – the country I want to know well by the end of the year.