12 Table Manners Observed Globally And You Should Know Them

Table manners are standards of conduct that we’re taught growing up. Our parents reminded us not to put our elbows on the table, to put our napkins in our laps, and to chew with our mouths closed, until one day good table manners became second nature; well, for most of us.

Dinner table manners vary from country to country and some of them are pretty unusual as well. Did you know that the British eat asparagus with their hands rather than utensils? And Hungarians don't toast with beer because of a centuries-old tradition?If you're hoping to blend in with the locals on your next vacation, make sure to take notes on these foreign practices.

* France

When not using your utensils, you are expected to rest your wrists and forearms on the table, otherwise who knows what you are doing with your hands under the table! Be mindful though that you never place your elbows on the table.

* Spain

While in Spain, forget about the practice of dine and dash. It is considered polite to enjoy the ‘sobermesa’, the period after the meal to digest, converse and relax. This practice applies to meals throughout the week/

* Britain

When asparagus is served to you while you are in Britain, use your fingers to pick it up from the stem, dip it in the dip or dressing and take a bite. You are also expected to leave the woody ends on your plate

* Hungary

While in Hungary, bear in mind the 150 year old tradition of not toasting with beer. Clink glasses with any other alcoholic beverage to make a toast. It is said that when the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was defeated, the Austrians had celebrated by toasting with beer glasses and the Hungarians vowed never to toast with beer.

* Mexico

In Mexico, using cutlery is considered to be snobbish. Do it like the locals, pinch the top of the taco using your thumb, index and middle finger and take a bite.

* Chile

In Chile it is bad form to eat anything with your hands. Thismeans even empanadas and chacareros (a type of Chilean sandwich) should be cut up with a knife and picked up with a fork.

* Ethiopia

Quite the opposite of the etiquettes in Chile, in Ethiopia, it is considered wasteful to eat with utensils. So when in Ethiopia, go ahead and eat everything with your hands, especially the right hand.

* Afghanistan

If you are in Afghanistan and you happen to drop your bread on the floor during your meal, don’t leave it lying there. It is common practice to pick it up and kiss it as a sign of respect.

* Japan

Upright chopsticks in a bowl of rice is how food is traditionally offered in honour of the dead during Japanese and Buddhist funerals. Leaving your chopsticks upright on your food is considered to be the harbinger of bad omen, therefore, take care to keep your chopsticks resting horizontally beside your plate.

* Korea

While in Korea, make it a point to accept the food plate or a glass using both your hands when it is being offered by elders. This is all about the culture of respect which using both hands demonstrates. It is also considered impolite to start eating before the elders do.

* Georgia

When you are invited to a ‘Supra’, which is a traditional dinner party where several toasts are made, remember that it is tradition to down your drink in one go during the toast. Fortunately, the glasses are on the smaller sides, so while the toastmaster makes a number of ‘tamades’ throughout the dinner, you can easily chug your drink with each toast.

* Thailand

In Thailand, the spoon is the primary piece of cutlery, and the fork is only there for help. It is considered good manners to use fork to transfer the food on to the spoon and use the spoon for eating. Also, unlike popular belief, chopsticks are not used for eating Thai food, it is restricted eating to Chinese style food from bowls.