Thanksgiving Day and Thanksgiving Day and Eating & Table Manners Eating & Table Manners

in the Westin the West

Shuang Ma (Diana)

College of Comprehensive Foundation Studies

Liaoning University

Thanksgiving DayThanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United

States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the United States. Because of the longstanding traditions of the holiday, the celebration often extends to the weekend that falls closest to the day it is celebrated.

In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition traces its origins to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. Historically, Thanksgiving began as a tradition of celebrating the harvest of the year.

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving Dinner

The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada is a large meal, generally centered around a large roasted turkey. The majority of the dishes in the traditional American version of Thanksgiving dinner are made from foods native to the New World, as according to tradition the Pilgrims [ 前辈清教徒移民 ] received these foods from the Native Americans.

According to what traditionally is known as "The First Thanksgiving," the 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag at Plymouth Colony contained turkey, waterfowl, venison, fish, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, pumpkin, and squash. Many of the foods that were included in that feast (except, notably, the seafood) have since gone on to become staples of the modern Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving: Presidents & Thanksgiving: Presidents & TurkeysTurkeys

Table Setting Table Setting Place SettingPlace Setting

Table-setting RulesTable-setting Rules Knives (with the blade turned toward the plate)

are on the right hand side

Spoons (with the bowl facing upward) are arranged to the right of the plate next to knives

Forks (with the tines facing upward) are placed on the left

The dessert silver is arranged above the plate, with the handle facing toward the hand that will be using it (the dessert fork toward the left, the spoon and knife toward the right).

The fruit silver can be brought to the table along with the fruit plates

Flatware Flatware CutleryCutlery

Illustration of Illustration of Table SettingTable Setting

Dining Dining Etiquettes 1Etiquettes 1

When do my responsibility begin? [Respond to invitation - Don’t make your host guess about yes or no; Tell them your special needs;]

Can I bring a guest? Clues about the event: starting time, address,

dress code [… go one level above what you think will be appropriate – overdressed vs underdressed], and so on.

Never ever skip the check-in process (wear your name tag high on the right side)

When should I take my seat? [wait until 4-5 people are at the table before sitting down]

Should I talk to people after I have sat down? Should I put my belongings such as a cell

phone on the table? How can I deal with difficult food?

Dining Dining Etiquettes 2Etiquettes 2

Can I change my seat if I realise that I do not know my neighbors?

Taking medications? Lipstick, toothpick, etc. Where should I put my cell phone?

Can I answer the phone calls during the dinner?

Taking away doggy bags? Sharing foods with other people who

are very close to you in relations? Asking for a taste?

Dinner Etiquette Dinner Etiquette Table Manners Table Manners

How to set my napkin? And how to use it?* move the place card

* look to your hostess / host, wait for her /him to take her /his napkin* take your napkin immediately when you sit down at a business

dinner* fold the napkin in half, place it on your lap – do this below the level

of the table* use it only for your mouth [ ! clean the face, dust your chair, clean

the cutlery, etc. ]* where to put it if I leave for a while and will come back again? * what shall I do with it when I finish my meal?

How to use the silverware? [BMW] * When and how to eat your bread?

* Each course has its own silverware. * Starting with the utensils that are farthest from your plate.

* You’ll have a maximum of 3 forks and 3 spoons. American style Continental style

[placing the fork and knife in your hand; knife edge; cutting and eating; Don’t spread out your arms; indicating you’re finished / not finished]

* How to deal with the things I don’t want?

Dinner Etiquette Dinner Etiquette Table Manners Table Manners

How to place and use the glasses? Turning the glass over to indicate I don’t want to have

this wine? Bread [basket], butter, condiments, cream cup /glass,

etc. passing [to your right, together], using salt and pepper…

The used utensils should go back to the plate or the table cloth?

If I have not used the salad knife, should I place it on the plate with the fork when I finish the course?

Can the knife be used as a pusher? What should I do if I happen to drop my fork, etc.? What should I do with a finger bowl? Where should I put the coffee or tea spoon?

Table Manners Table Manners Dinner EtiquetteDinner Etiquette

Continental Continental BreakfastBreakfast

Full English Full English BreakfastBreakfast

Typical Typical LunchLunch

DinnerDinnerCoursesCourses

A full course dinner is a dinner consistingof multiple dishes, or courses. In its simplest form, it can consist of three or four courses, such as soup, salad, meat and dessert.

Starter /Appetizer

Starter /Appetizer Main CourseMain Course DessertDessert

Seating Seating ArrangementArrangement

Breads

Dips and Dressings (敷料剂 )

Jams, Pickles, Preserves

Pasta, Rice, Grains and Pulses

Salsas and Relishes (调味品 )

Salads

Sauces and Butters

Stuffings & Marinades(淹泡汁 )

Vegetables and Misc

Accompaniments & Side DishesAccompaniments & Side Dishes

Starter Starter AppetizerAppetizer

How to eat soup? You go to the soup or the

Soup to you?

Main CourseMain Course

DessertDessert

Special Special KnowledgeKnowledge