1950's Table Etiquette!

Hello Darlings, in this weeks video I learnt all about the table etiquette of the 1950's! I watched a couple of instructional videos from the 40's and 50's on table manners which was very interesting. There are so many vintage educational videos on YouTube that are so fascinating and I would highly recommend watching some! I had a lot of fun filming this video so I hope you enjoy it too!

Lots of love,
Sage Xx

Other videos on 1940's and 1950's table etiquette:

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Sage Lilleyman
PO Box 406
Doncaster, VIC 3108
Australia

[beverlybenson]

I just came across your channel. Thank you for your video. I'm 76 years old. This is how I was taught to eat in the 1950s. My family was not rich, but middle class. Dad was a factory worker. But mother said just because we weren't part of the upper class we still should eat like civilized people. We always had cloth napkins beside our plates. ❤

[sparkybish]

I went to charm school in the 80s and learned table etiquette, social etiquette, and social dancing. It has served me well to this day. I’m never worried about embarrassing myself or my husband at a business dinner.

[jonathanparks]

Table etiquette hasn’t changed much. Whether people follow it or not is a different question. Some of the rules are different depending on which country you are from.

[christinamiller]

In general, yes, in America people swap their knife and fork around. But when I was young I was told by my Grandparents to just "do what feels natural". So I never changed them around. My Grandfather was French and he always smiled when I left them in the proper hand. I remember them saying to my mother, she must be an old soul, lol

[paulagardner]

Table etiquette has not changed that I'm aware of. We were raised the same way. My husband still opens doors for me, pulls out my chair and orders my food for me after finding out what I want. We raised our kids this way, and having adopted our grandson, are raising him the same way. He is 8 and opens doors for ladies at restaurants, stores. Sometimes he forgets but "papa" reminds him to be a gentleman. We are also raising him to say yes ma'am, sir, please and thank you. There is nothing wrong with manners and courtesy. Thank you for doing this video!! I'm from Texas, USA.

[beverlybenson]

Most recipes from that era never make enough frosting/icing. I has my mother's Betty Crocker cookbook from the early 50s. I finally gave it to a niece who loves to cook. At first, it was hard for me to part with it, but since she appreciates vintage things, I gave it to her. I'm 76, and I have no one to pass it down to. I love your channel. It brings back many childhood memories growing up in the 50s. ❤

[themurrrr]

Only thing missing is the silver coaster under the water glass, usually with a paper doily in it to absorb the water from condensation, or any spillage from drinking.
In my family it was always a mortal sin to place down any glass straight on the table.
Also, never forget to compliment the host about the meal and table setting, etc. Let them know you appreciate the effort they went through to put together the meal. Yes, even when it’s “just” mom cooking every day.

[ojbwslp]

Your retro-outfit is just adorable! Light-lilac color is perfect for spring & Easter, especially in combination with light-limegreen.

[themurrrr]

For the Americans who may be confused at the wording:
Entree is appetizer or starter, comes from the French language. The word also means entrance in French.
Plat principal is French for main course.
Why Americans changed entree to main course, who knows. Very confusing in my honest opinion.

[jessicav]

This is pretty similar to how I was taught by my mom (who was a child of that era in the US and had it drilled). Another critical rule: never reach for a serving dish. Always say, "Could you please pass the xyz?" That exact phrasing was required. It is also a hard requirement that, after everyone is done, there is a conversation about how wonderful the food was.

[_GhostTea]

My husband always orders for me at restaurants because a) I have social anxiety, b) he wants me to be as comfortable and taken care of as possible and c) I love when he does 😂 I had no idea it was a 1950s thing too!

[southerncuban]

I had to learn etiquette because my parents were diplomats, and it is surprising how it has stayed the same since the 50s. Some people might find it complicated, but in my experience, they become a habit hard to unlearn. Some of them I used unconsciously, even when not necessary.

[thekpowe]

My grandmother taught me all about table setting, table manners, dinner etiquette, etc...I'm SO happy she did. I'm never embarrassed or worried about what to do. I'm ALWAYS the one everyone is asking what to do, what utensil to use, how to set the table, etc. I love all the knowledge she gave me.

[lorisarchet]

Sage, you are correct, in the U.S. we typically cut our food the same way as you and then switch the fork to the right hand. I personally have a tendency to cut everything at the start of the meal so I don't have to keep using my knife. Plus it keeps us from bumping elbows with the left handed family members around our round table.😉 Hope you have a TERRIFIC week ahead.

[marionlacey]

Oh Sage I do love this etiquette instruction video which you recreated so beautifully, impeccable grooming included, and in amusing detail which made me giggle. I was brought up a child of the 60's and lived this way. When we (children) finished eating we always asked "May I leave the table"? before we were permitted to do so. When my own children were growing up in the 80's I was still setting the table with a real tablecloth until too many spills with beetroot /gravy/tomato sauce cured me of this etiquette habit from the past, and was replaced with placemats and paper serviettes!! Going out to work also helped lessen the ironing everything in sight urge in me. However my grown children still ask to be excused from the table, which delights me to this day. 

Sage, you have reignited an urge in me to set the table with a "proper" tablecloth and napkins the next time my family come to share a meal with us just to gauge their reactions. At least we never have a meal in front of the telly, but I will have to move our precious golden retriever from underneath the table so she doesn't get caught up in the table cloth. I always set the table with linen cloth and my best tableware at Christmas so why not do it more often. Good manners will never go out of style (I hope)! 
Love from South Australia. 🐾💐

[loricairns]

My Scottish family taught me to put the fork on its side with the knife through the tines to signal that I was finished eating. My Canadian family all but licked the plate clean and kept the knife and fork in hand for the next plateful. 😀 Economic conditions greatly dictated table manners. Great video! 👏💜

[bigenesis]

A video from Sage is like a fabulous Christmas present for me! I look forward to the day that the video is posted, and the anticipation drives me crazy! When I get the notification of a new video, I immediately rush to watch it! It always turns out to be the highlight of my day, or night, and the best present ever!❤❤❤

[JillR]

My daughters took cotillion and learned table manners there. They don’t use it at home but do when they are somewhere else. They also learned a trick for remembering which side for bread plates and drink glasses- just make your hand a into a “b” on the right and “d” on the left and that tells you what glass to drink from and where your bread plate should be!

[janeburkhart]

I definitely learned a few things! In my family we were brought up to use proper table manners, but some we missed. I'm American and left handed, so I don't switch my fork to my right hand. This was a great reminder to use good table manners. I think in America good table manners ( and manners in general) have really slipped.

[ManachanJapan]

I'm from Germany, born in 1988, my mother grew up in the 50s and my grandparents were born in 1908 and 1913. I don't know if it was the same in all areas of Germany, but I was taught the same etiquette with ONE exception: the dessert spoon/knife were on TOP of the dish, not to the left or right.
Learned it that way from my grandparents, as they took care of me after school till my mom came home from work.