Maybe you’re asking yourself why you should adhere to this or that prescribed ritual – you don’t see the point and feel unnecessary constrained by these rituals. So, what about looking at the historical context of some of these rituals and at why they actually became rituals? Maybe this will make you appreciate some of them, and become sympathetic to some them.
Why does formal dress include white gloves?
Louis XIV held many celebrations at Versailles and, due to the number of invited guests, he was always short of service staff. For this reason, he engaged those who worked for him in the fields to also serve at these celebrations, and had them wear white gloves to hide their calloused, unmanicured and often dirty hands.
Why is the last button on a gentleman’s vest left unbuttoned?
King Edward VII of England was, shall we say, a somewhat more expansive figure. He was unable to fasten the bottom button on his vest, so it often remained unbuttoned. It was definitely more comfortable, and so it was happily adopted by other men as well.
Why is a wedding ring worn on the left hand?
The Romans believed that this part of the body was most connected to the heart due to the aorta. This is also the reason why decorations, orders and name tags are worn on the left.
Why do we clink our glasses together before drinking?
At the time that this tradition was established, beverages were not served in transparent glasses, so it was difficult to guess what was in them. That’s why the glasses were clinked together so hard that the drink spilled from one to the other, the contents mixed with each other, and assuaging the fears of the person who did not serve the drink that the contents might be poisoned. Today, paradoxically, this is one of the reasons why we don’t clink our glasses together at the most formal meetings. It shows that we trust our host.
Why do we raise our glasses in a “toast”?
In the past, wine and beer producers did not have all the devices that today perfectly monitor the production process and make timely adjustments if something goes wrong. So, in the past, sometimes wine and beer became bitter. And since people back then were no fools, they had a special trick to get rid of the bitter taste. They would put a piece of bread in a glass, which absorbed the bitter taste. When the glass was drained, it often remained in the glass. Since washing the dishes at the time was not as big a priority, it often dried to a “toast” in the glass.
Why do men take their hats off when entering a building?
In the days when people traveled on dusty roads, a lot of dust and dirt clung to the hat due to its shape and material. It was therefore safer to take off one’s hat and coat before entering a room.
Why do gentlemen pull chairs out for ladies before they sit down?
Women in high society once wore such pompous and restraining clothes that without the help of their men, they were unable to sit down at the table on their own. If the gentlemen had not first pulled out their chairs, the ladies would not have been able to sit and eat.
Why is it rude to point your finger at someone?
Some ancient cultures believed that this gesture summoned evil spirits against the one being pointed at.
Why do we say, “bless you” when someone sneezes?
It was once thought that with each sneeze, a person loses part of his soul and some disease awaits him or her. We therefore call out “bless you” and the Germans “Gesundheit” to prevent the illness of the sneezer. “God bless you,” is a term common to English-speaking cultures, as invocation of a kind of spiritual protection. It ensures the soul of the person in question will hopefully remain intact.
Why should the man pay the bill for a lady at a restaurant?
This of course applied only back in the times when women did not go to work, had no incomes of their own and it was the responsibility of men to take care of them. Today it is solely up the mutual agreement of the parties.
Why do we shake hands as a greeting?
There are several interpretations. One claims that this was a way of passing on power, from one person to another. Most historians, however, agree that with this move we originally proved that we did not have a concealed weapon with us.
Hopefully, with these few lines, I have managed to pass on to you at least a little understanding of the rituals that have survived to this day, and that they will be a little less of a hassle from now on.