Supper
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Supper is used commonly as the term for the main evening meal, although its use varies considerably. Supper may be used to describe a light snack or meal in the evening, either after or instead of dinner.
Etymology
The term is derived from the French souper, which is used for this meal in
History
Supper was originally a secondary lighter
Modern usage
 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2023) |
In modern usage, "supper" may refer to, on largely class-based distinctions, either a late-evening snack (working- and middle-class usage) or else to make a distinction between "supper" as an informal family meal (which would be eaten in the kitchen or family dining room) as opposed to "dinner", especially as a "dinner party", a generally grander affair with guests from outside the household, which would be eaten in the best dining room.[6]
Different cultures can usually bring supper to the table at different times. For example, According to The Daily Meal, in Norway it is customary to start eating at about four in the afternoon and in Australia at nine in the evening.[7] In South African English, supper is used for the main evening meal, and dinner tends to be reserved for a formal meal.
North America
The distinction between dinner and supper was common in North American farming communities into the
In Saskatchewan, and much of Atlantic Canada, "supper" means the main meal of the day, usually served in the late afternoon, while "dinner" is served around noon. "Dinner" is used in some areas, such as Newfoundland and Labrador, to describe the noon meal as well as special meals, such as "Thanksgiving dinner", "Flipper dinner" or "Christmas dinner", the evening meal being "supper". The word "supper" is also regionally reserved for harvest meals put on by churches and other community organizations: "fowl suppers" or "fall suppers" (featuring turkey) are common in Canada; "pancake suppers" given by church groups were once a tradition in the United States; and "bean suppers" (featuring baked beans) were traditional in New England and especially the state of Maine.[8]
British English
In Scotland, the traditional British dish of fish and chips is known as a "fish supper". In this context, supper refers to a meal typically enjoyed in the evening, consisting of a main course accompanied by thick-cut chips. In place of the fish, it may also feature other items, such as deep-fried pizza.[9][1]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Oxford English Dictionary". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Strong, 250
- ^ "Frances Bankes' ball at Kingston Lacy 19 December 1791 (From Regency History)". Regency History.net. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ Day, Ivan, "Pride and Prejudice - Having a Ball", Food Jottings
- ^ "Wedding Supper". Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ Post, Emily (1945). Etiquette: the blue book of social usage (10th ed.). Funk & Wagnalls. p. 375.
- ^ Vaitiekunas, Dainius (10 June 2023). "The Typical Dinner Times In 12 Countries Around The World". The Daily Meal. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Research – Foodways Research: A Taste of Maine". The University of Maine Folklife Center. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- ^ "The fish supper is a Scottish cultural phenomenon". HeraldScotland. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ISBN 0224061380
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