Dinner or Supper (Page 6): I know supper is in the evening because my mother always warned us we would be in trouble if we were not home for supper when she chased us out to play.

SpikeW Loc: Butler PA

I know supper is in the evening because my mother always warned us we would be in trouble if we were not home for supper when she chased us out to play.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Horseart wrote:

I have no objection to the Italians calling it dinner, but we always had breakfast, lunch and supper. Gloria Vanderbilt's Book of Etiquette says that Dinner is formal and after 8 PM. Since I never eat anything after 8:30 PM, dinner would have to be quick for this OLD southern woman.

This OLD UK man agrees - food should be eaten early, allowing for a bit of exercise afterwards.
For us, when we eat out, restaurant Dinner is a fairly late affair, but the night tends to be later too.
Nice to chat with you about nothing too important. Regards Del.

Bartulius Loc: Bristol, Ct

I grew up in New England. Both my parents families traced back many generations in New England. Supper was an evening meal of one course. Dinner was a large meal of several courses, served later than lunch, but before supper, usually when the entire family and guests, if any, could sit together. Supper would not be made on days we had a big dinner.

scatman Loc: Waterbury, CT

Bartulius wrote:

I grew up in New England. Both my parents families traced back many generations in New England. Supper was an evening meal of one course. Dinner was a large meal of several courses, served later than lunch, but before supper, usually when the entire family and guests, if any, could sit together. Supper would not be made on days we had a big dinner.

You nailed it!

Stephan G

jerryc41 wrote:

How would that work with "dinner and dancing"?

OK, when playing the old Dinah Shore records.

Stephan G

In our house, years back, it was always "food" in Ukrainian.

Abo

Down here, (for most) the evening meal that's had around 6pm to 8:30pm is
"tea"or dinner.

Supper is a small snack, usually something like toast and jam with tea or coffee between 10pm and midnight.

Back in the 60's, my father and I would visit
my grandfather a few suburbs to the SE; there we would have supper after
watching "The Untouchables" on TV with Robert Stack as Elliot Ness... That was a Friday
night ritual.

Friday night at "Pop Pops" was profoundly wonderful to my 7 year old mind.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Abo wrote:

Down here, (for most) the evening meal that's had ... (show quote)

Yes - you colonials have got it about right - back in UK "tea" used to be served around 4pm (tea and cake, or cucumber sandwiches) to those who did not work for a living. The "Upper Crust" did not refer to the "top of the loaf"! They are fast disappearing.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Delderby wrote:

This OLD UK man agrees - food should be eaten early, allowing for a bit of exercise afterwards.
For us, when we eat out, restaurant Dinner is a fairly late affair, but the night tends to be later too.
Nice to chat with you about nothing too important. Regards Del.

I'm so old that eating anything after 8:30 PM won't let me sleep. You're right, it's not important, just whatever makes one happy! Thank you for the kind comment. It has been kind of a fun, goofy thread.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

jerryc41 wrote:

Do you call the evening meal "dinner" or "supper"? I've always called it "dinner," but it seems to vary around the country and the world.

'Where I'm from both apply to the evening meal. Supper is less formal and things like hamburgers, etc.
While dinner is more formal Steaks, Chicken and a heavier meal. We call the mid-noon day meal lunch.

anotherview Loc: California

Yes: "Most in North America eat the major meal in the evening. This meal is called Dinner with Lunch being the the lighter meal eaten near noon."

fetzler wrote:

Dinner and Supper are actually two different meals.

For farmers Dinner is the major meal of the day and is eaten near noon. In Germany, the major meal of the day is also at noon. Supper is a lighter evening meal. As a boy I spent summers on a farm where the language was just as I describe.

Most in North America eat the major meal in the evening. This meal is called Dinner with Lunch being the the lighter meal eaten near noon.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Growing up in Kentucky on a farm it was supper, dinner is a little to uppity for me!

Horseart Loc: Alabama

DickC wrote:

Growing up in Kentucky on a farm it was supper, dinner is a little to uppity for me!

I lived on a horse farm for 54 years. Dinner, to me is formal. Our evening meal was not formal unless we ate out at a fancy restaurant. It was always supper for us. However, no matter how fancy a restaurant is, lunch is still lunch.

anotherview Loc: California

We here in Southern California (and maybe elsewhere, too) eat a meal called "brunch." It falls loosely between breakfast and lunch.

If a person arises too late for breakfast, and doesn't want to wait for lunch, he goes to brunch.

Horseart wrote:

I lived on a horse farm for 54 years. Dinner, to me is formal. Our evening meal was not formal unless we ate out at a fancy restaurant. It was always supper for us. However, no matter how fancy a restaurant is, lunch is still lunch.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

anotherview wrote:

We here in Southern California (and maybe elsewhere, too) eat a meal called "brunch." It falls loosely between breakfast and lunch.

If a person arises too late for breakfast, and doesn't want to wait for lunch, he goes to brunch.

Yep, brunch too. We do that occasionally.