tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post3472043236038979723..comments2024-03-03T22:03:05.210-05:00Comments on A Joyful Chaos: Differences in CulturesA Joyful Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647481484192797931noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-8646526217085517822011-05-07T02:03:21.065-04:002011-05-07T02:03:21.065-04:00I loved reading this post. I have had similar dif...I loved reading this post. I have had similar differences in between my husband's family and what I am used to. We are from the same state but there still is a big difference in things that we are used to. Thanks for this post! =)Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907376516708261160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-22606425161152159572011-05-06T09:47:58.020-04:002011-05-06T09:47:58.020-04:00I learn so much coming here...love it.
I also lov...I learn so much coming here...love it.<br /><br />I also love the beautiful Spring look.<br />Lavender never was one of my favorite colors when I was a child but as I've grown older I LOVE IT...your blog is so pretty (and informative)<br /><br />KarenMy Colonial Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16066446310464424766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-3250017291628036792011-05-06T09:24:20.661-04:002011-05-06T09:24:20.661-04:00In our family, it has been the custom to rotate Ch...In our family, it has been the custom to rotate Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving dinners. The hostess prepares the main dish and the mashed potatoes, and everybody else brings something. <br /><br />We usually entertain at home because we are vegetarians and most people go into a panic over what to feed us, but if somebody asks to bring something, I'll suggest a salad or dessert.<br /><br /Lady Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10608765381189723792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-84931782231038616822011-05-06T08:46:12.838-04:002011-05-06T08:46:12.838-04:00Interesting. And it was interesting reading all t...Interesting. And it was interesting reading all the different comments on this too.<br /><br />Personally, I don't do much entertaining, but on the odd time I have had people that weren't family here for dinner it's been me who has supplied all the food. I mean, I invited them to dinner, so it makes sense to me that I'd supply the food. If it's for a party type of thing Torizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04965005679599352165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-42467548197690128352011-05-06T06:40:19.805-04:002011-05-06T06:40:19.805-04:00Cultural differences are everywhere as when I grew...Cultural differences are everywhere as when I grew up it was a custom to always bring the hostess a gift rather it was flowers, a box of candy, a hand made handkerchief or a dish with food in it with the intent of her keeping the dish. We would never think of showing up to family gatherings or strangers without something for the hostess. My mother started us very young making things by hand to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-42602848063605356892011-05-06T01:23:39.979-04:002011-05-06T01:23:39.979-04:00If we're just having one family over for suppe...If we're just having one family over for supper I don't expect or want them to bring anything, but if we have several families over at once, it's nice to have some help with the side dishes or desserts.Linda from KYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11113650049469929569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-27529762757469901172011-05-05T20:27:56.092-04:002011-05-05T20:27:56.092-04:00Very interesting! I was nodding when I read Amanda...Very interesting! I was nodding when I read Amanda's comment above... "I never expect anyone to bring anything, and I try to tell them not to worry about it if they ask, but I still insist on bringing something myself!" I do the same thing. Funny how there are all these unspoken "rules". Someone could fill a book with them. :)Sarah Forgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101753891967001104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-1691012761915865162011-05-05T18:41:13.290-04:002011-05-05T18:41:13.290-04:00I think the custom of bringing a food item for din...I think the custom of bringing a food item for dinner or a party has grown out of the fact that many women work full time now outside the home, and preparing a huge meal can be an onerous task; friends want to lighten the load. I think many of us also long for a greater sense of community & sharing, so contributing to a communal meal is rewarding as well as fun.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11628785099107936923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-43076113812400399132011-05-05T15:06:51.871-04:002011-05-05T15:06:51.871-04:00Isn't it funny how tricky a simple thing like ...Isn't it funny how tricky a simple thing like going to someone home for dinner, or asking someone to come, can be?<br /><br />I, for one, am thrilled when I'm asked out and told not to bring anything - even though I love to cook, and I really don't mind helping if it's needed. I have friends who just aren't comfortable showing up empty handed, and other who I can just tell to Knitwithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13224736384702969469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-81066953454310015282011-05-05T13:40:20.702-04:002011-05-05T13:40:20.702-04:00In the USA where I was raised, it was usually the ...In the USA where I was raised, it was usually the hostess gift tradition if coming for a meal or visiting from out of town. <br /><br />Now, living in South Africa, with the very high cost of living, many people bring drinks when asked out to someone's home for a meal (juices, soft drink, wine) as this is often a costly part of the meal. They don't ask what to bring; they just come with Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122656833028913453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-77682356360119305072011-05-05T13:36:37.934-04:002011-05-05T13:36:37.934-04:00It is interesting that your topic today is bringin...It is interesting that your topic today is bringing things along to meals you're invited to. <br /><br />We have invited people over for dinner for years during our married life. I personally had to get use to people asking me, "Is there anything I can bring?" I decided after being completely unprepared with an answer a few times that I would give those who ask a choice between a Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03723884153929593267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-23789772450052962132011-05-05T11:11:56.405-04:002011-05-05T11:11:56.405-04:00Thanks for sharing! I have wondered what some of t...Thanks for sharing! I have wondered what some of the differences are and how your family has felt experiencing them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-75814742364752182892011-05-05T10:45:54.605-04:002011-05-05T10:45:54.605-04:00Interesting.. Of all my Amish friends and all the ...Interesting.. Of all my Amish friends and all the meals I've had I always asked what I could bring.. and they always told me me something and I brought it.. Thanks for sharing.. God BlessSisterbrendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05648052248628805768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-2388956220095255652011-05-05T10:37:38.080-04:002011-05-05T10:37:38.080-04:00Growing up, we always took something to share in t...Growing up, we always took something to share in the meal. I was also taught to never return a dish without something in it, cookies, cake...<br /><br />Now, each year my hubby and I host a large BBQ around July 4th. We usually feed around 70 people. The first year or two we prepared all the food ourselves. Now that our 7 kids are all grown and have families, they help. It's nice to reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799857697301806990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-28165710218366848892011-05-05T10:32:25.459-04:002011-05-05T10:32:25.459-04:00I never expect anyone to bring anything, and I try...I never expect anyone to bring anything, and I try to tell them not to worry about it if they ask, but I still insist on bringing something myself! Isn't that funny?! Growing up, our family was large, so when we to someone's home, we were usually going to a game night, etc, so everyone brought something. My mom would never go anywhere without taking something! So now I feel as though Amanda Pittmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06697560483375622759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-28827459733387995302011-05-05T09:56:23.285-04:002011-05-05T09:56:23.285-04:00I don't expect guests to bring anything but th...I don't expect guests to bring anything but themselves to dinner at our house. "Different strokes for different folks" is the rule these days. I do always take a hostess gift though just as our way of saying we appreciate the invitation.magnoliasnteahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517995125207145961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-53562335139607276492011-05-05T09:54:52.123-04:002011-05-05T09:54:52.123-04:00My upbringing was like Gerri's (not in Germany...My upbringing was like Gerri's (not in Germany, though) - it was customary to take a small hostess gift, but not food. (Well, I guess technically wine and chocolate are food, but you didn't take them with the expectation they'd be served at that particular meal.)<br /><br />It wouldn't occur to me to take food to a dinner party unless it was planned as a pot luck. I like pot Clisbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05744793549029118738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-37741512859343493952011-05-05T09:50:09.890-04:002011-05-05T09:50:09.890-04:00This is not a new thing. I am 74 years old and si...This is not a new thing. I am 74 years old and since I was a child my mother had always stressed that you never visit someone empty handed. Even if you only bring a little cake.Colleen's Blog Long Island NYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03582448851160612988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-21914663468346886712011-05-05T09:45:11.472-04:002011-05-05T09:45:11.472-04:00This is useful information, Mary Ann. I often shar...This is useful information, Mary Ann. I often share in meals at my Amish friends' homes, and I have never offered to bring anything. However, on Easter Monday, because it was a "holiday" and a big meal, I did bring a present for the frau--one of the "Chicken Soup" books. Now I will know not to offer to bring treats.Ben Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291725832043157245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-10790031575281503772011-05-05T09:21:42.674-04:002011-05-05T09:21:42.674-04:00I was born and raised in Germany and there it is c...I was born and raised in Germany and there it is customary to bring a "hostess"gift,be it flowers,wine or chocolate,so for me it wasn't a big leap to contribute to dinner.When we were young and poor our group of friends simply shared in the expense of get togethers by sharing the food. Now it is fun to bring something and get asked for the recepie :)GerriHultgrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02219836441687865882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-55261655064455556022011-05-05T09:18:51.061-04:002011-05-05T09:18:51.061-04:00If I have some one over I usually tell them they d...If I have some one over I usually tell them they dont have to bring a thing. But if we are going somewhere I always feel bad if I dont bring anything! Even if its just some thing small like some type of bread..Toniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09223141257252367520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-57729819318750687992011-05-05T08:57:51.680-04:002011-05-05T08:57:51.680-04:00I think this is a fairly recent social thing. MMy ...I think this is a fairly recent social thing. MMy mother was a great entertainer and often had people to dinner in the 50s and 60s but I don't remember others coming with food. I do remember everyone dressing like they were going to church with suits and ties and all the rest! I think perhaps as women have gone to work full time our society has changed and in order to socialize they've Downhookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11319584574311263106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-36884122302654063042011-05-05T08:52:19.123-04:002011-05-05T08:52:19.123-04:00Pretty new blog look here. :-) I always want to ...Pretty new blog look here. :-) I always want to notice when bloggers bother to change their blog look!<br /><br />But your past simple one, was lovely too.<br /><br />Gentle hugs,<br />~♥~Auntie sezzzzzz...https://www.blogger.com/profile/16170232476926222740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260159263783917143.post-26380839036377557472011-05-05T08:51:09.745-04:002011-05-05T08:51:09.745-04:00Interesting... I must say, I like the Amish way. ...Interesting... I must say, I like the Amish way. <br /><br />It's such a difficult thing... Trying to figure out "what to bring."<br /><br />And the Amish way is based on common sense. If a someone invites you to their home to eat, they intend to FEED you. And have wine for you too, if you all drink wine. So why, why, why did the silly custom of bringing-something, begin? Auntie sezzzzzz...https://www.blogger.com/profile/16170232476926222740noreply@blogger.com