NORWEGIAN MANNERS
According to Marstrader and Oleson, “when you went to visit Bestemor (grandmother), after the meal, everyone got up and stood at the back of their chair, placed hands on the top of the chair, bowed to her, and said “TAKK for maten.”(Thanks for the food)”.[1] They also mention that, when anyone invited for a meal could not make it, the host would quote a Norwegian saying “Tilbud’s mat er sa godt som spist” (Bidden food is as good as eaten.) which meant the honor was in the asking[2]. So during this holiday season please remember your manners and thank the cooks, and if you cannot make home for the holidays just remember no one will be mad at you, they have done their job already.