Apr 23, 2007
“Luncheon as a regular daily meal only developed in the US in the 1900s. In her first edition of Etiquette, in 1922, Emily Post had seen no need to explain that only hash or cold meat were to be served at supper; anything hot or complicated was served at dinner. But by the 1945 edition, she had to explain that luncheon was an informal midday meal and supper an informal evening meal, while dinner was always formal, but could occur at midday or evening. Later editions, such as the 1960 edition edited by Elizabeth Post, standardized the times and dropped all the old traditions of formality.. Timing had become more important than ritual; ritual became an optional and personal choice.
— Sherrie McMillan
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