Napkins on the table: learn how to choose

We will consider the appearance of napkins as a new milestone in the etiquette system. In general, to speak abstractly, napkins on the table existed at all times, only their role was played by various subjects: the ancient Greeks and their patrician neighbors had the custom of baking thin cakes (an analog of modern lavash) and placing them on the table for feasting in a folded form. Then they got their mouth wet and sent to the same place. Although the Romans excelled and pohlesche: at hand, an important reclining senator was a charming youngster with lush hair, about which the uncle and wiped his hands every time after using the gifts of Dionysus.

Asians in this regard are more delicate - napkins on the table looked like a bowl with rose water, later - with the addition of citrus, which was moistened by fingers after eating fatty foods. In this form, the tradition has reached us - many Japanese restaurants and seafood establishments offer this option of cleaning hands.

Modern napkins come from handkerchiefs, only in Latin they are not nasal, but for wiping sweat. The guests brought long pieces of cloth with them, eventually taking away the leftovers of food - perhaps, hence the "tablecloth-samobranka" is like.

Modern napkins on the table

After the invention of forks and habituation to them of the European nobility, in the 18th century the napkins on the table were significantly lost in size: a small square served more as an ornament of the table than an applied object - it was considered the highest skill to eat from a fork so that a napkin was not needed Note).

Today, cloth napkins have almost completely replaced disposable napkins - paper napkins on the table. Elegantly folded, made of corrugated, painted, shiny paper, it will be an ornament of any table - from New Year's to wedding. Nevertheless, cloth napkins have not gone anywhere - fine restaurants consider it their duty to serve the table only like this. In addition, satin napkins look expensive, napkins on the table, made of cotton or linen, keep a good shape and are well washed.

By the way, there is a rule: if large, 35x35 cm napkins are served for breakfast, dinner, or dinner, then 25x25cm napkins are accepted for tea.

How nice to roll napkins ?

It is not enough to buy and spread napkins - this is the last century: now it is necessary to surprise the guests with their correct geometric thinking, having learned to fold them up to the ancient technique of origami.

Here are a couple of ideas on how to fold the napkins nicely on the table:

• "Loop" - add up diagonally, we get a triangle. Now you need to combine the left and right corners with the top. The resulting diamond is folded in half with respect to the horizontal - again we get a triangle. We put the right corner in the left - the napkin will look like a "layered finger", the edges of which, if bent - there will be a real plume.
• "Southern Cross" - bend in turn all the corners to the center and turn the napkin face up. Again, bend the corners to the center and turn them over. Repeat the procedure, then pull out, starting from the upper right corner. It turned out to be a cross, just like an ambulance. And this help is for your table!