How About The Origin Of Forks?
It was probably thousands of years ago, that the first man to use a crude kind of fork for eating, lived here. A small pronged twig, a kind of natural fork to pick up meat was used by the primitive savage. The fork possibly originated with the arrow, it is believed by some. Originally, it must have been a kind of tooth pick used to remove the food entrenched between teeth.
Actual fork must have been used for cooking and holding the meat, while it is being carved. The original fork were long, two pronged. These were made of hone, iron and hard wood. It took pretty long since it was accepted for general use in dining.
The forks were great curiosities in Europe only about 300 years ago. In France, until 17th century every one ate with fingers. We know Louis XIV for his magnificent court and the great banquets at his palaces. Even at this elegant court non used a fork.
People started using it for eating initially. Others used to ridicule them as being too dainty. A rich woman in Venice got made a golden fork in the 11th century. There was a lot of talk and writing about her fork. Instead of eating like other people, she had her foot cut into small pieces and ate the pieces with the help of a two pronged fork.
In the 16th century, about 500 years later, people who used forks in Venice were rated peculiar. At Venice, every person is served with a fork to hold the meat while he cuts. This is beside spoon and knife. Holding of food item with hand or touching is considered an ill-manner.
From 17th century onward, the table manners developed on modern lines. In Italy, silver forks made their appearance. By the end of .18th century the fork was accepted in homes of cultured people as a necessity.
