What is the origin of the American custom of putting down the knife and using the right hand to fork?

Answer 1

It's an old Puritan and anabaptist way of eating.

For those who don't know, in Europe people leave the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left, cut, and pick up the food with the fork, tongs down, and repeat, never switching hands or puting down the knife.

The Puritans and anabaptists were careful to put the knife down because the Bible says about Esau, the evil twin of Jacob, "With your sword you shall live." SO the Puritans thought to themselves, one needs to eat to live, so if one eats with the knife in the hand, he is living with his sword like the evil Esau.

It's a custom they borrowed from the Jews. Early Puritans were philosemites - meaning they immitated Jews for some reason. Even today Hasidic Jews have American table manners no matter where they live.

Europeans who aren't used to eating with Americans find it barberous or strange. AMericans also think the same of the European method, as only an extremely hungry American would not do the switch. In fact, in American movies, they sometimes show backwoods people eating with proper European table manners, albeit a little bit hunched.

Just one of those accidents of history.

Answer 2

The origin is that most Americans eat normally with a fork in their right hand when not cutting meat or other items, and were never taught the correct way to do it, so they do this strange hand switching move.

Nothing special, it just happens like that. Very few Americans are concerned with the prim and proper way to do such things.

Answer 3

I don't think it's a custom. I think it's probably just easier for people who are right handed. Most of my family does this. But I've noticed that neither my boyfriend nor myself bother to switch the fork back to our right hands. Even though I'm right handed, if I need to use a knife, I will keep the fork in my left hand. Not everyone can do that I guess.

Answer 4

I was told (no idea if it's right) that it was started during the revolutionary war to "protest" English rule...people started using their utensils opposite of the proper European style, which is to keep the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left and not switch.

Answer 5

I think reb is overanalyzing. The simple answer is that most people are right handed and do most everything with their right hands.

As an aside, I have never heard "to fork" used as a verb before.

Answer 6

It shows that you are not defending yourself. You are eating. During the medieval times a knife was always kept in your fighting hand while eating to dissuade others from taking the meal from you. Dropping the knife reflects cultural civility.

Answer 7

Americans eat like barbarians compared to Europeans.

Edit:
Hoolia, I am American. This, however, does not cloud my judgment. I have been to Europe and I was also raised to eat properly. Just keep your mind closed and retain your hillbilly ways.

Are you a WWII vet?

Answer 8

hmmm i definitely know what you're talking about...but the only reason i switch to eat with my right is because i'm right handed. i guess sometimes i don't switch. never really thought about it!

Answer 9

I think that it is just because we are mostly right handed.

Answer 10

I have no idea who informed you of such a custom, but I assure you there isn't one. I have lived in america all my life and I've never heard of such a crazy thing. Thank you.