Napkin Etiquette

Knowing Napkin etiquette can help you with your manners while seated at a dinner table. This lesson will help you learn how to bring classy back into your life.

[kakorotskywalker]

Suppose that you were sitting down at this table. The napkins are in front of you, which napkin would you take? The one on your ‘left’? Or the one on your ‘right’? The one on your left side? Or the one on your right side? Usually you would take the one on your left side. That is ‘correct’ too. But in a larger sense on society, that is wrong. Perhaps I could even substitute ‘society’ with the ‘Universe’. The correct answer is that ‘It is determined by the one who takes his or her own napkin first.’ …Yes? If the first one takes the napkin to their right, then there’s no choice but for others to also take the ‘right’ napkin. The same goes for the left. Everyone else will take the napkin to their left, because they have no other option. This is ‘society’… Who are the ones that determine the price of land first? There must have been someone who determined the value of money, first. The size of the rails on a train track? The magnitude of electricity? Laws and Regulations? Who was the first to determine these things? Did we all do it, because this is a Republic? Or was it Arbitrary? NO! The one who took the napkin first determined all of these things! The rules of this world are determined by that same principle of ‘right or left?’! In a Society like this table, a state of equilibrium, once one makes the first move, everyone must follow! In every era, this World has been operating by this napkin principle. And the one who ‘takes the napkin first’ must be someone who is respected by all. It’s not that anyone can fulfill this role… Those that are despotic or unworthy will be scorned. And those are the ‘losers’. In the case of this table, the ‘eldest’ or the ‘Master of the party’ will take the napkin first… Because everyone ‘respects’ those individuals.

[paoandrecm]

You're so sweet. Please, keep on making "bringing classy back" videos. They're so informative :D

[Be_your_own_light]

i like the spirit you are teaching thanx for the advice... :)

[LiloUkulele]

Your husband's lucky...I'm UK born and raised...sometimes friends point out my table manners as if it something special or strange (poor friends). Dining etiquette seems to be a dying requisite...thank you for keeping it alive.

[danielamihova]

What are we suppose to do with a napkin we left many dirty stains on ?

[ShaferHart]

Is it ok to still use paper napkins on your table to clean your mouth even if the restaurant provides this cloth ones? Not sure if restaurants are not supposed to put both on the table.. but happens in my country lol

[keziejohn]

If you had taught me Engineering Maths in school, I'd have been president of the world by now. I am sure I am never forgetting this.

[isabellelaval]

In "old school" French table manners, napkins are also used to discretely vlean the mouth to prevent leaving greasy marks on the wine glasses. This's so unsightly for the person sitting in front of you.

[MarigoldEdits]

So informative especially the part when she said ' buy the white ones ' and why. :)

[iamyoda]

In order to impress your guests, you need the skills to fold napkins into fine art.

[frankovinny]

Amiga now a can show my friends that I have been right. thank you for the video again very educative

[dinkazewudie]

You are amazing! your husband is so lucky :)

[prakash]

Thank you, Mistress :) Have a great day.

[SciTechVault]

Also, never sneeze or fart in a napkin.

[beano]

So if I drip gravy on my chin I just dab the sides of my lips and I'm good?

Being sarcastic btw. Is there a way to sort THAT out?

[morganolfursson]

Actually the word Serviette in French, doesn't solely refers to towel at all, what English speakers call a towel to wipe yourself after the shower is what French call a Serviette de toilette, the one you use after a bath is a Serviette de bain, the one you use on the beach is a Serviette de plage, and the one you use at the table is a Serviette de table, and since the French create Etiquette (including the word itself) it is only fair to call it a Serviette, because this is exactly how it was referred to in Versailles by all the Louis and the queens and the French court . My mother is part British part French and from quite the aristocratic background and even my very British grand mother calls it a Serviette de table or Table serviette . A hand towel you use in the bathroom is called a Serviette but one you use in the kitchen is called a Torchon, the one used to wipe the floor is called a Serpillere and the word cloth itself in French is Chiffon which has nothing to do with the Fabric known as chiffon in english .
And here are all the words used in french to talk about a specific type of cloth, depending on its purpose, bagatelle, bourre, carpette, chamoisette, charpie, chiffe, défroque, drapeau, drille, essuie-meubles, fripe, guenille, haillon, linge, loque morceau, nippes, oripeau, paille, peille, pilot, serpillière, toilette, torchon . Sorry lady but the french language is a little more complex and specific than English speaking people seem to believe .
What you call a Napkin is what it should be called a serviette de table . The meaning of napkin in french is a disposable serviette made of paper or something that women use during their period, so definitely not something associated with table manners .

[iragenafabrice]

so how can i tell a servant that i am still eating but just taking a pause

[Raison_d-etre]

150 years ago, most people were too poor to worry about "class." Now we want to bring "class" back.

[HaileeMiu]

I don’t understand- even when she shows the right way to blot face, she lays the napkin on her body to put it back on lap. The only thing I want to know is how to actually USE the napkin as a napkin

[louiem]

thanks for this video, very informative!