Posted by andyb on February 21, 2008 at 23:37:59 from 86.164.37.167 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Re: Dinner, Supper, was End of school milk posted by Peter H on February 20, 2008 at 22:06:02:
When I've heard this topic discussed elsewhere, (for example in Kate Fox's Watching the English) the general opinion seems to be that if a meal called 'dinner' is eaten it will be the main meal of the day. The more grand the household, persons or occasion the more likely it is that dinner will be in the evening but not invariably Sunday and Christmas Dinner seem in my mind to be associated with midday meals even though my own family customs favour eating them in the evening.
I suppose a materialist explanation could be advanced. Eating dinner at midday presupposes: a) a handy supply of foodstuffs (consider the effects the foraging habits of the S&As on meal times)b, someone with the time to cook it and c) for those who are eating it to stop what they are doing and go home, or to the canteen etc for dinner. Problems with the latter two factors may have contributed to the apparent decline in eating dinner at midday.
As for the S & As, I think it surprising that they cook dinner at midday, it might be thought more convenient for explorers to eat at the end of the day's explorations, as AR's catalogue of missed or concertinaed meals suggests. Perhaps this shows that ideas of how things should be done 'properly' linger on after convenience has adapted habits.