Facts About Napkins

Though often unappreciated, napkins improve the dining experience.

Modern diners may take napkins for granted, not realizing the revolutionary changes this dining item has experienced over the years. Developed in a vast array of styles, and for some varying purposes, napkins serve to improve one's dining experience. Does this Spark an idea?

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History
- Napkins date back to the Spartans who used small balls of dough to wipe their hands during a meal. This eventually evolved into early diners using slices of bread to rid their hands of a mess.
Types
- The Romans used two types of napkins, one to wipe the forehead while dining during warm weather and the other to blot the lips or cover furniture during a meal. Napkins vary today not based on function, but by material, namely paper or cloth.
Size
- With the advent of silverware, napkins receded in size as dining became more refined and less messy. Today they come in a variety of sizes, such as small cocktail or larger dinner napkins.
Etiquette
- Etiquette deems folded napkins may lie to the right of or on top of the dinner plate. Once the meal is over, diners should leave their napkins to the left of the plate.
Identification
- Napkins may also be referred to as serviettes in certain regions of the world, like New Zealand. In Canada, only paper napkins are referred to as serviettes.

Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rene Ehrhardt

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