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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — You may remember Thanksgiving dinners from your past as more than just eating lots and lots of food — it was the time when kids were told to get dressed up, get cleaned up, and behave at the table.
Kids were told to use their best manners and say “please” and “thank you.” Parents taught kids how to use forks, how to use a napkin, and to never talk with their mouths full.
ABC4’s Craig Wirth said that, when he was a child, the football helmet was optional at Thanksgiving dinner — but the manners were not.
Luckily, there were handy instruction videos to teach manners — such as putting your napkin on your lap, how to use a spoon to eat soup, how to take smaller bites of food, how to chew with your mouth closed, and so on.
Wirth stressed similar manners in his family — although, with Bobbie and Edie (his dogs) things looked a little different.
His dogs had napkins in their collars, and they knew how to eat their food as best as they could. They didn’t quite need to remember the proper silverware to use, but they did know when to stop and take a drink.
In case you (the human reading this) need a refresher on table manners, here are some reminders compiled by Kent State University:
- Put your napkin in your lap.
- Do not talk with food in your mouth (and chew with your mouth closed).
- Taste your food before seasoning it.
- Pass items to the right.
- Gently stir your soup to cool it (instead of blowing on it).