Old Spanish Courting Etiquette Ignored

Spanish etiquette customs became somewhat ingrained in the Philippines during the time period of Spanish rule. According to the Library of Congress blog, “Indeed, Catholicism came to profoundly shape life in many parts of the archipelago that eventually became the Philippines as Spain spread its rule there over the course of more than 300 years from 1565 to 1898.” – Aerial photo of Manila from the 1920’s, from Pinterest.

Lover Abducts Sweetheart from Manila Church

Manila, Philippines (UPI)—Centuries old rules of courting etiquette that have prevailed in Spanish circles here from the earliest days were thrown into the discord and the community shocked and enraged by an unidentified young lover who abducted his sweetheart from a church. 

Señorita Felicia Espinoza, of a prominent Spanish family, had just entered the church with her mother when the lover dashed through the door, pushed the mother aside, bruising her, snatched the girl and carried her to an automobile. The family chauffeur, who attempted to interfere, was knocked down and the abductor sped away with the girl in his own car. – UPI Wire Service, 1926

 

Reminder: We have a free webinar on Dining According to Hollywood and Dining Etiquette as Presented on Film! You can watch it live on September 23rd at 4:00 pm PST (Pacific Standard Time). We have a limited number of viewers who can attend via Zoom, however, if you are registered and cannot watch the event live, you’ll be sent a video link to watch a copy at your leisure. Link to the Free Webinar –– https://events.humanitix.com/dining-according-to-hollywood-the-art-of-dining-on-film Please email any questions to: theetiquettechannel@gmail.com

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette, Belching and Other Noises

When you’re considered the ‘pig’ at the dining table, but you’re actually just being polite according to your upbringing. 

Multicultural Manners

Be appreciative and at the table,

‘Act Like a Pig’

Donna and her family have just arrived from the Philippines. American friends, the Gordons, invite them over for a welcoming dinner. At the end of the meal, Donna’s brother, Peter, belches loudly. The visiting family pays little attention to his behavior, but the Gordons think Peter acts like a pig.

What went wrong?

Peter was attempting to show how much he enjoyed the Gordons’ food. In many areas of the Philippines, as well as in Saudi Arabia, belching is considered a compliment to the chef. As in other parts of Asia and Indonesia, table noises including noodle slurping and lip smacking are the sounds of satisfied diners.

American table manners sometimes revolt others. Many foreigners find it repugnant when Americans eat corn on the cob, believed to be more suited for livestock than humans. Europeans, especially, consider it uncouth to hold the cob in one’s hands with butter or margarine dripping onto the fingers and chin.

Much of dining etiquette in the U.S. has been influenced by European traditions. Yet even in Europe, bodily sounds such as belching, passing gas, coughing, hiccuping, sneezing, commonly punctuated dining events until the 16th Century, when these noises became socially taboo.

Rule: Depending on who does it, belching at the table is not necessarily a sign of rudeness.

By Norine Dresser, Los Angeles Times, 1994

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia