Where Did the Custom of Saying Grace Before a Meal Come From and Why Was the Tradition Once Performed After?

Today, we say grace before a meal in thanksgiving for an abundance of food, but in ancient times, food spoiled quickly, often causing illness or even death.

Nomadic tribes experimenting with unfamiliar plants were very often poisoned.

Before a meal, these people made a plea to the gods to deliver them from poisoning.

where did the custom of saying grace before a meal come from and why was the tradition once performed after

But it wasn’t until after the meal, if everyone was still standing, that they offered a prayer of thanksgiving, or “grace.”

What Is the Ceremony That Is Performed Before a Sumo Match Called and How Is dohyō-iri Performed? Each sumo match is preceded by an elaborate ceremony called dohyō-iri which is based on Shintoist traditions. The judges file into the ring with attendants and sword bearers. Each official is supplied with…
Where Did the Custom of Wedding Banns Before a Marriage Come From and What Does the Tradition Mean? The custom of proclaiming wedding banns began in 800 AD when Roman Emperor Charlemagne became alarmed by the high rate of inter-breeding throughout his empire. He ordered that all marriages be publicly announced…
Why Were Executions Performed At Sunrise During the Middle Ages and How Did the Custom Originate? In prehistoric times, executions of condemned prisoners were carried out as sacrificial ceremonies to the rising sun. In the Middle Ages, because the executions were public, they continued to be held early in…
What Is North America’s Favorite Restaurant Meal and Why is Fast Food So Popular? North Americans eat about half of their meals away from home, which is one big reason why fast food is so popular. 55 percent of the average diet is fast food or junk…
Is Belching or Burping at the End of a Meal Ever Considered Polite? Some Eskimo tribes and some South Sea Island tribes consider belching at the end of the meal a form of politeness. It is their way of saying to a host, "Thank you. The…
How Did the Custom of the “Bridal” Party Originate and Where Did the Tradition of a Wedding Reception Come From? The expressions bridal feast, bridal bed, and bridal cake, among other bridal references, all date back to around 1200, when a wedding was a rather boisterous and bawdy affair. The word bridal comes…

Where Did the Custom of Saying Grace Before a Meal Come From and Why Was the Tradition Once Performed After?

Related Posts

About Karen Hill