What time is dinner?

The other day on my Facebook page I asked my readers what they called their midday meal and their evening meal. It was interesting how it varied and not necessarily by location or country, often determined by what their parents called these meals. The history of mealtime is fascinating, so when I stumbled across a secondhand book called "Dinner with Mr Darcy" (by Pen Vogler) which included a chapter on mealtime during Jane Austen's life, I was quite excited. What we know today about mealtime, isn't really that old or very traditional - rather a continuous change that has been occurring for centuries and continues to change as we speak.  I thought it would be interesting to share some of the changes that have occurred over the centuries and hope that you find it as exciting as I did!!

You could call this a very brief (and rather confusing) history of mealtime!!

All I can say, I am glad I live in an era that eats 3 meals a day and simple courses!

The Romans (when in England) did not eat breakfast and it took many centuries, until the 17th century to be eaten by all classes in English society. For those with means - the wealthy, breakfast included coffee, tea and dishes such as scrambled eggs but these became more elaborate and in the Victorian era. By the mid 1700's many large houses started to build breakfast rooms - rooms exclusively for eating breakfast (my grandfather's home had a breakfast room which I can remember eating breakfast in)!

During the time of Jane Austen, the middle to upper classes rose between 6 to 8 am but breakfast wasn't usually taken until between 9 and 10am.  Jane Austen was known to write letters before breakfast.

However things started to change during the Industrial Revolution when workers hours were regulated and labourers were required to start early, therefore they had little choice but to eat breakfast before they went to work, it was an important meal of the day. The wealthy businessman also took on this new habit, no more late starts (for the menfolk any way).

"Morning" was the time up to dinner (I will get to that shortly). If callers arrived during this period they would be offered something like cold meat or cake.  I think this would be similar to a light morning tea.  

The picnic from "Emma"

Lunch or luncheon interestedly was something from the Victorian era when dinner was moved from the afternoon to the evening. However the word "lunch" was rarely used until the 19th century. Jane Austen referred this part of the day as "noonshine".  Luncheon was a light meal between two more substantial meals, as it is today. Once again, the Industrial Revolution changed mealtime to more along the lines we have now. Factory workers needed a noon-time break and a much needed meal, this resulted in the mass-production of food such as pies that could be eaten quickly and only required hands to hold the food.  Shops were opened to meet the needs of these workers as we have today.  Sadly, many of the pies contained rancid meat, but the gravy that was added at the time of purchase usually covered the bad taste.  What you don't know, didn't worry you!!

The word dinner comes from the Latin "cena" which the Romans ate in the middle of the day and by, the 16th century this was the main meal of the day and commenced at 11am. By the time of Jane Austen it was a meal for the mid to late afternoon.  Ladies usually took an hour to get ready for dinner. However, if you remember Miss Bingley and Mrs Hunt from Pride and Prejudice, they took an hour and half to prepare. In 1798, Jane Austen wrote about dining at 3:30pm and drank tea at 6:30pm. By 1805, she dined between 4-5pm, however in her books, Mrs Dashwood dined at 4pm, whereas General Tilney preferred 6pm. This was usually a light meal but became far more substantial as we move into the Victoria Era. However once afternoon tea became popular, dinners in the early 19th century were later pushed into the evenings. 

Tea, coffee and cake were taken an hour or so after dinner during Jane Austen's life, when the gentlemen joined the ladies after spending time in the dinning room.

With the increase in artificial lighting resulted in meal time moving later into the evening. 

During the Georgian era, time after dinner involved a visit to the theatre, or perhaps playing cards, listen to music and other forms of entertainment, this was followed by supper.  Supper could be anything from bread and cheese, cold leftovers or a full and complete meal with many courses.  This may occur around 9pm through to midnight, or if the group had been to the theatre, perhaps start at 10pm. 

The ball at Netherfield Park from Pride and Prejudice 
which was followed by supper

A hostess who is entertaining guests would have to provide not just a dinner of several dishes, and several servants to wait on them, but another two whole meals. Entertaining was a serious, and expensive business. No wonder the not so rich struggle with money all the time!

For the working classes, meal times were defined by the hours of their employment (or in rural areas, what was happening on the farm) and by the late 18th century most were eating three meals a day with their substantial meal occurring in the evening, this they refer to as dinner.  

It is all rather confusing so it's not surprising that we have such a mix of names for the meals we eat but I am glad that we have simplified mealtime!!

Georgian kitchen

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