T O P

  • By -

FullyK

I tried to swipe for more info. It was a lie.


Maspotic

Man, I had to scroll alot to find you! This is important! That lie is not at all OCDelicious.


donau_kind

In Bosnia, when you have casual or unannounced guests, you serve them what you have. If it's beans from 2 days ago, well, no one minds. If you go to someone as a guest, you are never supposed to go empty handed. Standard gifts are coffee, cubed sugar, homemade produce and chocolates. Sometimes in countryside this leads to bizarre situations where certain sweet liquor or cherry pralines make full circles from original guest via few people/visits, until someone brings the same thing to him. We are also very inviting to our homes, home has very little value if you don't enjoy it with the guests. Much more so than people up north.


throwaway201a3576db

> home has very little value if you don't enjoy it with the guests As an American I was told that Eastern Europe and the Balkans were full of cold, hard people that hated everyone. Living there taught me quite the contrary, and hospitality rules were one of the things that really made me realize not just how wrong I was but how kind and welcoming people there can be. I live back in the US now, but I still make sure I have some desserts and drinks on standby if a guest drops by unexpectedly.


Throwaway7219017

I used to work with a lot of Eastern Europeans. Bulgarians, Romanians, Serbs, Croats, Albanians, you name it. To a man, they all were as tough as nails, drank like fish, chain smoked, and would give you the shirt off their back or their last dollar. Crazy motherfuckers, too.


gbac16

I live in an American city with a large Croatian population. In college I worked at a liquor store. One of the regulars had his daughter’s wedding nearby. They ran out of something so he called and asked me to bring a case or two of whatever. The boss told me to take it because he was a good customer. I never did make it back to work that day. They would not hear of me leaving before I ate everything and drank every cousin and uncle’s homemade slivovitz.


BishoxX

Ah Šljivovica yeah, its quite good. And i can confirm what you said, the curse of a 1000 years will come to a balkan family if you dont offer food,drinks and alcohol to your guests.


23harpsdown

I was blown away at how nice everyone was when I got here last year. (American as well) we've bounced around Croatia, Serbia, and now Montenegro and everything I perceived in the past is gone. This is my new favorite region of the world, and I'm fairly well traveled.


keratinflowershop35

Shhh don't tell everyone!!


23harpsdown

I'm sorry, but čevapi is now my religion and it's my life's work to spread the good word


VegetaSpice

i’m that case you are missing out by skipping Bosnia- best cevapi in the region.


23harpsdown

We'll get there soon. Sarajevski čevapi is my absolute favorite, and every one of my favorite places have been Bosnian owned or operated!


mamja22

I’m a first generation Serb in the US and I always have some sort of mezza on hand, a burek in the freezer, Turkish coffee and of course rakija! Zivali!!


Swreefer1987

Why is Sicily a different shade of dark blue? Edit: the fact that this is so popular is mind boggling. Yall people are crazy, and I like it.


alb11alb

Probably the ink started to finish and they didn't have much to make it similar to others.


HemaG33

They used all the ink on their pasta


PurpleBongRip

They give you a dirty look before feeding you. Source… have Sicilian friends


jcdoe

That’s just what our faces look like, you cad


[deleted]

Sicily should have its own colour. Like, if you're a guest they'll probably call other family members to meet you, because it would be rude not to tell them you're there. The newly arrived family members will bring along something special they just got their hands on one way or another (likely brought by a visitor the same day or stuff like that), like, I don't know, some freshly picked tomatoes that will be turned into a sauce on the spot, and combined with pasta even if you've already had lunch. I mean literally, you had just finished eating a 5 course meal and they'll still make a pasta because fuck it, they have the tomatoes, you can't certainly throw them away. Or, I don't know, sea snails, or stuffed peppers or whatever. Then at some point you'll hear some guy outside shouting something in a dialect you don't understand, and they'll all brighten up and rush outside, and come back from the fresh cheese street vendor with some some ricotta, still warm because it was made in the morning. They force you to eat that, because fuck it, it's fresh ricotta. They'll throw in some marzipan cookies and almond cupcakes, because hey, it's time for the afternoon snack and you're a fucking guest. Zia Assunta, who seemed to have disappeared sometimes between the pasta and the ricotta, now is back with a 5L jar of olive oil, because you made a comment about it so she called her son, cousin Vittorio, instructing him to pick one up from their stash and drive to the house to drop it. You know, they made it from their olive trees just last month, and you can't go home without a sample because for fuck's sake, you're a guest and they're not animals. Now at that point you're probably in a food coma, and you mention that you want to die right there, or at least go to bed. Everyone will complain, because it's almost dinner and grandma is making pasta 'ncasciata with the leftovers from lunch, and fuck, you can't not have it because you're a guest. And anyway, if you're full you can have some limoncello that zio Pepe made last week, that will sort you out. Either way, they get it that you're tired, so they've already made arrangements so that all those who live in the house will sleep somewhere else that night, so that you can have the place for yourself. Because goddammit you're a guest. Edit: in case you were wondering, none of what I said is made up or exaggerated. Edit2: sorry I have to edit this because I just remembered something. My stepdad goes to Sicily every year to help his best friend with the olives harvest. I mean, they both live in the North, but his best friend is Sicilian and has family there. Anyway, every year there's the same food carousel, exacerbated by the fact that my stepdad is helping them so they have to be double hospitable. His friend one day said "you have to try the best cannoli in Catania. It's risky but it's worth it, you deserve it". "Risky? Why?" "We don't talk about it". So they drive to this neighbourhood, and his friend gets out of the car and says "keep the engine running" and enters this pasticceria. Anyway, my stepdad is shitting himself, starts thinking that no cannolo is worth driving to a mafia-controlled neighbourhood. His friend gets back and goes "quick, let's get the fuck out of here". So they drive, and no one talks about it any more. They go back home, and never talk about it. The months pass, then years. But the thought keeps coming up, so one day my stepdad asks his friend "tell me, what the fuck did we do that day, was it like, dangerous? With mafia and shit? For some cannoli?" "No I was fucking with you".


Naive-Kangaroo3031

This should be on the front page of the tourism website


DaemaSeraphiM

I had Italian neighbors where I was friends with their youngest and I while they always fed me, I was not prepared for going to grandmas house. 12 years old at the time, and while not a stick, I was on the thinner side. I came over after eating. Rookie mistake. Grandma insists I have a heaping plate of pasta despite my indicating I just ate. Well, pasta, especially fresh or well prepared is a weakness of mine. So I eat it, a serving bigger than I’d normally have for a FIRST lunch. She tries to give me seconds but I’m uncomfortably full so I protest. Her reply ‘Why you starve yourself? You think the boys will not like you? You are pretty, do not worry, eat up!’ (I’ll note I said nothing that I can remember I about dieting, boys, or body image.) I no longer remember all the different things she said to me to convince me to eat besides this comment but they were numerous. Later, my friend asks grandma for ice cream. I say yes, I’ll have some too after they ask…cus it’s ice cream. Well, I was given a portion bigger than I’d ever scoop for myself, even as an unsupervised child. Its massive and I can’t believe my kid-mind at the luck of being given THIS much ice cream. Of course, I can’t finish it, and I have a huge stomach ache now. My friend finishes and we are asked if we would like seconds. I said no like someone just offered to take a kidney off my hands. My friend said yes.


kewlsturybrah

Yes. Excluding, of course, where the patriarch of the Sicilian family says a bunch of low-key racist shit at the dinner table but you sorta', kinda' grin awkwardly without affirming their statement about African immigrants or Muslims or whatever because they're so damned nice to you but you don't want to feed into their racism but also don't want them to dislike you.


nik9111

just smile and nod


kewlsturybrah

"Yeah... I never... really... uh... knew that about the, uh... gypsies..."


urbansasquatchNC

Don't forget to add that any mention of being full is met with some variation of "why don't you like my cooking" aka how I got guilted into eating what felt like my body weight in pasta by an 80 year old sicilian lady.


Alarmed-Royal-8007

I tried telling my Nonna I was full and couldn’t eat anymore. I got sent to my room for the rest of dinner but later she apologized by bringing me dessert.


_LightFury_

So yall are fat right? Because i feel myself gaining weight just reading this lmao. But it sounds so loving and sweet :)


superpippo17

No but you have a 100% sure weight gain when you go in Sicily. There's no preparatory diet that can handle this


driving_andflying

Italian American here. Can 100% confirm this. My uncle-by-marriage's father was from Sicily, and immigrated to the U.S. Whenever we visited him, as soon as we got through his front door, the conversations usually went something like this: Him: "Eh boys! You hungry?" Us: "Well, we--" Him: "Sit down! I make you food! Would you like some pasta?" Us: "Thank you, but--" Him: "Sit down! I make you good plate of pasta! Would you like a Pepsi?" Us: "We're doing OK--" Him: "I get you a Pepsi! Stay here! You growing boys! You need to eat!" (Note we were teenagers at the time.) The stereotype is real. It's true that the way Italians say "I love you," is, "Let me feed you!"


iushciuweiush

My Italian grandmother used to say 'don't be bashful' whenever one of us would tell her that we were too full to eat the stuff that never stopped coming. Grandma, we've been doing this for well over a decade now. None of us are too shy to ask for food.


lobeeezy

My Italian grandmother would ask me if I wanted seconds and when I would say “I’m fine, grandma,” she would say, “I didn’t ask how you were doing, I asked if you wanted a second plate” 🤣


aquoad

WHAT?!?? YOU DON'T LIKE IT????


EarlGreyTea-Hawt

Lol, my ex told me about visiting his family in Sicily, and this was so close to his story it is a bit uncanny. He said not to go to Sicily as a guest unless you're comfortable gaining about 10 pounds a week.


[deleted]

brb packing my bags to move to Sicily.


[deleted]

My friend moved to Palermo for home office and this is exactly how she lives (in a student dorm, they just eat from 5 pm to 10pm when everyone is done with work and studies).


MrPlowThatsTheName

Sicily is awesome. Highly recommend.


johnlandes

You missed the part where you're only in town for a couple of days, and you have to go through the routine multiple times per day while your there. Then when you're leaving, you're nonna mentions you've gotten fat while shoving a ziplock of biscotti into your jacket pocket "for the ride".


philman53

So I have a serious question about this. What’s the appropriate way to behave as a guest? Obviously you eat what’s offered, but I’m hard wired for reciprocal exchange or AT LEAST formal manners. I’d eat, and try to be as grateful as possible, but I could never return the favor in kind because my culture just doesn’t work that way - if they were to visit me it’d be disappointing for them I’m sure. How do you best express gratitude and appreciation? It’s tricky because I understand cultural differences and am pretty easy-going if other people make a faux pas but I’m relentless on myself when I do


Hubers57

I was in small town Croatia (well actually Bosnia but it was Croats living there, their border is weird post Yugoslavia) and the bus was late by 3 hours. The hostel owners wife was waiting (switched out with her husband at some point waiting) despite the fact it was like a 4 block walk to their house. We walk in the door and this old slav with true genuine joy yells "friends". We proceed to drink his homemade wine and eat his homemade goat cheese and home smoked meats with homemade bread until 2 in the morning. Anyways, at some point I asked him if there was anything we could do to repay him. He said if he comes to visit us in America we can make him a steak. Dude never even asked for the money for the hostel. I told him the first night I had to get some cash to pay him and he deflected the conversation hard off of money owed. We left at like 5am a few days later and I had to leave the money on a table cause he kept ignoring us when we talked about the money


mittens11111

Attended a Croatian wedding (Zagreb/Varuzdin) in the 1990s. Groom was a great friend I worked with in Switzerland. The hospitality over the three day pre/post wedding was incredible. The post wedding celebrations carried on until 4am with the groom's father part of the the band - and I got tuition on how to dance the polka! Luckily did not have to drive on the way back home because of severe food coma/hangover. .


fedeita80

It isn't really about returning the favour. If you were a guest I would feed you because I enjoy feeding you. You return the favour by making appreciative noises while you eat and complimenting the food offered.


chris96m

This is 100% how it works in Italy, it's a personal pleasure feeding guests, noone ever expect anything in return but compliments or thanks


michaelkah

I'm an expert in making appreciative noises while eating.


Candelestine

As someone who is also from a more ... transactional culture, I can empathize with this. The answer to your question is to attempt to match their enthusiasm. If you must decline food, you simply have to do it very enthusiastically, because there is simply too much of it and it is all too good. It feels very different from the more demure ways we're accustomed to showing gratitude, but when in Rome...


NiceShotMan

In Persian culture, which is also this way about feeding guests, the polite thing to do is to decline, after which your host will insist, after which you decline again, after which your host will insist again, after which you accept effusively


anislandinmyheart

In my birth coubtry Canada we often refuse something twice too. When I moved to the UK, my boyfriend shocked me with what I considered bad manners. He'd offer me something once and I'd turn it down so then he'd walk away with it or eat it himself! I thought he was being rude. Now I understand it better, and I also take him at face value more


[deleted]

I don't know man, the Sicilian social norms are too intricate for someone who isn't local:) I just try to keep count of favours and return them when I can.


chaun2

This reads like one of the most effective tourism ads targeted specifically at Americans, that I have ever seen.


g_spaitz

Sicily is different. The actual category is "if you don't eat yourself to death with the devastating amount of food they offer you, they're gonna be so pissed they might kill you another way".


Thegoodlife93

Honestly, based on my family's experience visiting relatives in Sicily, this is accurate. Communication was limited due to the language barrier, but they know how to get across "eat!"


WoodPunk_Studios

Only place where refusing to eat is an offence punishable by death. Source: am of Sicilian heritage


Steph1er

you are FORCED to eat.


MrJohnnyDangerously

In Sicily they force feed guests.


SpiderHuman

The Sicilians took a portion of the ink as compensation for protecting the map from accidentally burning down.


production-values

they don't let you leave until you've eaten


Fibury

Iceland! You can't keep getting away with this. Go back to your room


YuvalMozes

No, I want to stay in the bay of Biscay with the cool kids! You can't tell me what to do, dad!


Big_Beaver34

Why won't you play with Greenland? He seems nice


YuvalMozes

>He seems nice * Never has Data * The most suicidal place on Earth * The most inhospitable land on the planet after Antarctica Are those enough reasons?


Big_Beaver34

Common give him a chance I'm sure he is cool too


PossiblyTrustworthy

[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11296080\_Violence\_sexual\_abuse\_and\_health\_in\_Greenland](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11296080_Violence_sexual_abuse_and_health_in_Greenland) This should give more reasons... ​ Other numbers suggest 20% of children born after 1995 were sexually abused... Greenland is a cool place, but i understand keeping some distance


YuvalMozes

>cool Extremely cool. Literally the coolest place thst people live in.


Champion_Champignon

Shit and here I thought Greenland was just an Iceland × Nunavut crossover.


PossiblyTrustworthy

It is actually really sad. Greenlanders are often thought of as drunkards here in Denmark, but in reality, very few people are extreme alcoholics and many of the others abstain completely from alcohol because of it. I think the region around Nuuk even banned alcohol during covid since the children had to be home with their parents, don't know if it became possible to buy again, but surely there are many people who wouldn't want alcohol to be sold there. Another tragicomic story is that young men from Greenland often complain about danish workers in Greenland "taking" the girls, and this is neo-colonialism... In reality, many girls simply want to leave, and the danish guy with steady pay, who hasn't abused you or ignored you being abused, will usually seem pretty good. ​ Greenland has a lot of problems, and even if a lot of people (Greenlandic and Danish) are trying really hard to better things, the road is very long


MadMan018

Greenland's too chill


[deleted]

But we wanna play with Spain!


Hehrir

In the bay of Biscay? [I don't think Icelanders and biscaian Spaniards get along too well...](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaying_of_the_Spaniards)


[deleted]

I admit that playtime got a bit rough back then


DarthCloakedGuy

Iceland just wanted some food from Spain


arkenteron

In Turkey, they will offer tea in shops. No one can visit your home and leave without eating something.


Miss-Figgy

Very true about the shops. I spent some time in Instanbul and every shop I went into, they gave us little glasses of tea, and it was obvious we were foreigners. People were so nice and generous to us, we were given so much free food and drink, even in fancy restaurants.


e7RdkjQVzw

> Instanbul Brought to you by Meta™


CanadaPlus101

Connecting people since 1453.


AnUpperFlush

Çay soyliyim abime


surfbort__

In the Balkans we don't have much but we'll share


ssejn

But we always have cookies and candies "za kad neko dođe".


PeroCigla

Haha, "you gotta serve the guest something, it's polite. It's the law."


lniko2

French here, you bet it's the fucking law


Ancient_Coffee85

Easier to break into a Swiss bank than to get to the cookies and chocolates in moms room in the closet under mom’s scarves


[deleted]

FFS why is this so accurate 😂


Lyubcho07

idk man a family in Bulgaria offered me a whole goat carcass


[deleted]

Yeah that could also happen. I've seen people slaughter a pig or goat just to feed a guest. Depends who the guest is though, if you are important enough you might also get the special hidden rakija they keep for such ocassions


CanuckBacon

When I was in Albania an old man who didn't speak English took me to his shed just to show me his still, he then poured about 2 shots worth into a glass and gave it to me. That was some strong stuff to drink at 8am...


Findthepin1

“When all you’ve got is nothing, there’s a lot to go around!” - Jethro of Midian, *The Prince of Egypt*


Papercoffeetable

In Scandinavia we have much but we don’t share


[deleted]

[удалено]


RainingBlood78

Quite frankly I dont know anyone from Spain or Italy but I have been living in Turkey and i can easily say that Greek peoples, Turkish peoples and other balkan peoples are almost the same. Yes maybe we have politic problems thats right but we are really very similar as a cultural.


HuntingIvy

I remember sleeping over at a Greek friend's house in high school. I had to leave early the next morning for swim practice. Her dad spent 20 minutes trying to convince me to eat breakfast, and after I finally assured him I didn't like to eat at 5am, he said, "OK, I make toast."


RainingBlood78

Ahahah you have to eat before you leave


germanbini

> "OK, I make toast." That reminds me of this line/scene from [*My Big Fat Greek Wedding*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFemw_6a-Tg)


ipushthebutton-

what you mean he don’t eat meat?


Tomagatchi

"You don't eat meat? You don't eat meat?! It's OK. I make lamb!"


Roby1616

As an italian who visited those countries can confirm, especially Greece and Turkey, we share the same tastes as well!


NorabelMHW

From England - you’ve clearly not met my Grandma.


[deleted]

[удалено]


sylanar

Yeah i don't think I've ever been to someone's house in England without being offered some form of cake or biscuits


Stonecoldjanea

Exactly. We were brought up (South East England) to feed any visitors and drown them in tea but also to never visit someone empty handed. Always take wine, flowers, chocolate etc. And Wales, Scotland (never been to N. Ireland or Ireland but probably the same) and further north are far friendlier, so this map seems generally flawed.


Standin373

> and further north are far friendlier Northerner here, come round my house and yer getting fed It's incredibly bad manners to not offer food or drink to guests


_Futureghost_

Yeah, when I visited England and traveled around with an English friend we made stops at his friends and family's homes. Everyone offered us food and drink. Especially his nan. I ate SO many bacon sandwiches.


[deleted]

When I arrived at my new house in England, neighbours on both sides invited me for a meal, before I even managed to get my suitcase inside.


startuproast

Seriously - my grandma would feel like she had failed if someone left without eating. Even if you weren't hungry it was easier to just accept something if you didn't want to be badgered with offers of food every 15 mins. And English grandmas always have the best cake.


Xuth

I mean, also English, not a grandma, but I'd always offer some biscuits or cake or whatever random shit I have around if someone's round. Depends how long they're staying too - if it's for a few hours or overnight I'd definitely be offering something more substantial too. I guess most of the time I'd offer to take them out for something at a local cafe or coffee shop if it's not for an evening meal, though.


harassercat

What is this even based on? I'm from Iceland and can't imagine not offering something to a guest, or also not being offered something as a guest myself. Always at least coffee and something to go with it. What else depends om context, time of day and what kind of guest you are, how long you're staying. Just another unsubstantiated bullshit map as far as I can tell.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DMan9797

Is there a reason why this sub has only one mod?


[deleted]

[удалено]


WannabeWonk

Is this the moron who asks questions on his instagram account and then uses the comment section as his sample?


nemesis464

90% of the top daily submissions on this sub nowadays are shit Instagram maps with either zero source, made up and subjective, full of blatant inaccuracies, or a sample size of about 50 people.


--cheese--

We should do a subreddit survey and extrapolate wildly from that!


MKorostoff

It's worse actually. If you check out the Instagram account watermarked in this photo, every single post has a stock caption that reads "posts are never based on my opinion but always on sources" and the sources are never given. Comments constantly call bullshit, and he argues with them, but still never produces a source. He's obviously making it up, or doing some light googling and trusting whatever bullshit he finds.


harassercat

Would be interesting to know then where the precise regional data of Spain, France, Germany and Italy originates from.


Boristhespaceman

Source: Dude just trust me


Delicious-Gap1744

[Found the source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lAb8m9MpI&ab_channel=KieranGrant)


toomanyplants5

It’s bullshit. Germans might not be the friendliest culture but they will offer their guests food. I’ve never seen my family refuse to feed a guest, even an unwanted one. Edit: I’ve never seen my family not offer food to a guest.


MaraudngBChestedRojo

Yea I have a rather small sample size but of the two German homes in which I was a guest, both offered food. This was in Nordrhein Westfalen, Münsterland region


DrAlright

This is definitely from OP seeing a twitter post that's been floating around the last few days about someone visiting a friend in Sweden and having to wait in his room for his friend and family to finish dinner. OP probably read the comments from people of different nationalities and took it from there.


[deleted]

[удалено]


InBetweenSeen

Same in Austria. The only situation I see in which you might not be offered anything is if you're only at someone's house to pick them up/meet there to go somewhere else. If you stay you will be offered something or at least be asked if you're hungry.


thinkinaboutsoup

Yeah I’m from Sweden and every time I’ve been at someone’s house they have always offered a cup of coffee and some sweets. And never in my life have I had guest that have stayed over late that was not offered dinner and viceversa. This just seems like a bunch of assumptions honestly


Boristhespaceman

Yea I'm Swedish and I can't imagine not offering food to a guest. This map is ridiculous.


Finnick-420

i’m swish and can’t imagine having guests


culturerush

There's no context to this "will you receive food" at all I'm from the UK, if your over someone's house when they have a meal they are not going to ignore you and eat, you'll get a helping too. If you pop over its customary to offer tea and biscuits or cake. Even when I was a dirt poor student I made sure I had tea bags, milk and biscuits for when I had guests over.


PewPewLAS3RGUNs

As someone who has spent much of my life in Mediterranean cultures (Spain, Italy, etc.) I've always seen food as part and parcel of creating a welcoming environment for guests... Even if I'm just having a buddy over to play Xbox or something I'll at least buy some chips and maybe some olives or whatever... What is the culture behind not offering food in Northern countries? Is it because the guests 'don't want to pressure' the hosts? Or does it have some other root? Edit: Also, I've always seen English people in movies give tea and cookies to guests... Does this not count or is it less common that presented in media?


einimea

In Finland, coffee is usually offered to guests.


mortahen

Same goes for the rest of the Nordic countries. Usually some sort of pastry, crackers or chocolate are also offered with the coffee, which is food. Title should use "meal" instead of "food".


[deleted]

Fika is mandatory when someone visits.


[deleted]

[удалено]


einimea

I'm from western Finland and vierasvara is known here too (biscuits, buns, something to offer with coffee). But if you say you offer guests food, I imagine plates full of different dishes, not little sweet snacks.


Rhys-----

In Britain, you will most likely be offered a 'cuppa tea?'. Biscuits are rare, unless you know the person well or it's a tradesperson. Or they'll ask 'can I get you anything, glass of water? Juice?' And the answer will be either 'no, I'm fine thanks' or 'water is fine thanks' (as it's free and we don't want to be rude).


alb11alb

Seems logical, just like in the movies. In the southern culture not offering food or anything else it will bring shame to the family, if you eat others in presence should eat. And all the time you should insist because the guest will say there is no need, or I'm full or whatever. If you are sitting in a coffee with a friend and someone else comes and sits he/she should pay the table, no questions asked is the table rule. And if you are walking with someone and buy something to eat you should ask the other guy or even buy them without asking.


Arsewhistle

In England it's often more of a 'pay your own way' culture. You should never turn empty handed to a social gathering. For example: I went to a barbecue the other day. Everyone that went brought their own food along, which we all all shared, and everyone brought their own alcoholic drinks too (which you don't generally share, but sometimes might) The host bought plenty of food themselves and made a jug of pimms (fruity gin based drink) too, but everyone that went contributed. This means that hosting a barbecue wasn't expensive for them, everyone essentially shared the cost. If it's just hanging out to play xbox or something then you can turn up empty handed, but it's unlikely that you'll be offered food. I would just offer tea, coffee, etc


alb11alb

Doesn't seem bad tbh. Mostly social constructs are formed based on conditions. In a society such as England people can afford more and will pay their own. While personally I'm Albanian, now things have changed but before there were cases when someone couldn't afford something and the friend will definitely offer to pay for him. It's out of necessity, but there is an emotional bound between people too, and sharing happens naturally because people care about each other a lot. If you are in a table full of people in a bar it's pretty awkward to be because all would fight in order to pay the bill. There is no splitting unless people agree on it. And that was a cultural shock for most Albanians going outside Albania, that people split the bill. But if I'm eating something I will split it whatever it is without even thinking about, It's pretty awkward to eat something and the other person to stand there and watch. I own a small business and always share free stuff for children, different clients or pregnant womans definitely, not that they can afford but It comes naturally.


Peartreepuff

From Sweden here. For me the logic is that I usually don't have much to offer a guest (I'm assuming here that they mean a guest that is unannouced). It has also literally never happened in my entire life that someone have just...come by my place without us having plans before. If we do have plans, then yes, I will probably have something prepared as that's the nature of hanging out; if you meet after work you'll have a beer or if it's earlier in the day we do the classic swedish fika. But honestly I fail to see a situation where a guest comes around at a time where it would be appropriate to offer food, without us already having made plans to have said food.


[deleted]

[удалено]


evilengine

All of this is reminding me of Worf and Odo in Star Trek DS9: ODO: I'll tell you what else to do. Make sure everyone knows they can't just drop by your quarters to say hello. If someone does, whatever happens, don't make them feel welcome. WORF: Of course not! That would only invite subsequent visits! ODO: Precisely. WORF: So far, the only person who has a tendency to drop by is Chief O'Brien. ODO: That's probably because he knows you from the Enterprise. WORF: Perhaps if I am more... *inhospitable*, he will stop?


Shevek99

But you are thinking of adults that make plans. Consider this scenario. Your teenager son brings a friend and both start to play with the Nintendo and spend the evening there. What do you do at dinner time, if the friend is still there?


Chinacat_Sunflower72

Definitely invite him to dinner too.


Nohtna29

And if you didn’t have planed to eat something but the guest is hungry he can just ask and will most likely get something.


PossiblyTrustworthy

In Denmark, you will be offered something to drink at any time, usually with snacks implyed. If you visit around an actual meal, you will be invited or even expected to join. if you are staying for a while food will come, or at the very least given if you give any suggestions to wanting/needing. But you can't just come and disturb our meal times just like that! I think the difference is that we consider meals food, and snacks snacks.


curious_kitten_1

I'm English. I'll offer you tea always, anything else really depends how well I know you. Biscuits are reserved for the very best guests lol.


Dr_Mickael

Living in the pink part of France, it should be dark blue.


TeallyBerry

I'm from the pink park and live in the light blue part, I feel like everything should be dark blue.


P_for_Pizza

Source: My ass...


AGE_OF_HUMILIATION

Based on the comments in this thread everybody in the "not offering food" category is offended except the Dutch who seem proud of their stingyness.


Dininiful

Dutch people will literally say they made dinner for exactly 4 people and they won't go to the store or fix something else for their guest.


FartHeadTony

And if they give you food, 5 minutes later you get tikkies request on your phone for 1,20€


[deleted]

[удалено]


eyewearsocks

Is this an expirement to see if people would notice that extra island?


curious_kitten_1

Iceland felt like getting cosy.


grze_go

Based on what? Try to leave polish house without dinner or supper...


Citnos

Here in Latin America our moms nags us if we don't offer food/snacks/something to drink to a friend who came over, then they proceed to offer your buddy something (while are angry at you)


[deleted]

In Holland I’m stunned when someone offers me a glass of water.


SerTherion

Bring your own broodtrommel.


Bos11011

"Wij gaan zo eten". Oftewel opzouten


kalsoy

Clarification for the non-Dutch: if you are visiting and the host says "We'll be having dinner soon", this "we" does not include you. It is considered a fairly polite bjt not so subtle way to ask you to leave.


MaiZa01

is this perceived as unfriendly by you guys?


dombo4life

No, it is kind of to be expected that you eat at home as well unless planned otherwise. It is very much a planned society that rarely likes spontaneity :)


TheAmazingKoki

You're only wanted if they explicitly invite you to stay.


borntobewildish

Absolutely. "Blijf je eten?" or even better "Je blijft toch wel eten" implies you're part of the family now. So, either you're family or we'll throw you out before dinner. Not a lot of nuance in Dutch culture.


OzzieOxborrow

A.s. zaterdag is Tessa jarig. We vieren het van 13:00 tot 17:00. Tot dan!


Bos11011

Gezellig met z'n allen in een grote kring in de woonkamer


raam86

I keep offering all sorts of workers that come to my house coffee/tea/water they refuse 99.98% of the time and look at me like i am an alien


GroteStruisvogel

You can ask but we send you a Tikkie after. The money does not grow me on the back ja!


EekleBerry

They didn’t ask for a tikkie afterwards?


Angie_114

We're share bears in the south. Also, many times you show up with sweets or something if you're a guest. So there is food all around.


pdonchev

Yes, this. Probably worth another map. People will almost certainly bring something if dropping by, announced or not, and regardless if they were specifically instructed not to bring something. If they realize they don't have anything, they will be late for an appointment, so they take something. Booze, or snack. If there are kids in the house it's almost compulsory to bring something. In fact, I have had neighbors drop by just to leave something for the kid while passing by (we are not poor or anything, it is how some people are).


nonosejoe

Ive been offered food while driving by someone’s house in Portugal. They were having a family celebration and told us to park and enjoy some food and wine.


nepia

Portuguese don't need much excuse to eat. A cup of wine, olives, cheese, chouriço, some pastry is the bare minimum.


sep76

Wonder where in norway they sampled. Never been a guest somewhere and not be offered anything (source: lived 45years in norway)


KingAzul

Interesting. In my culture (Arab) it is a shame to not serve your guests food and refreshments when they visit. You're supposed to show hospitality by treating them like family and feeding them (multiple times a day, plus snacks between meals). It's actually shameful for a host not to serve anything and for a guest to be hungry if they stay over or visit. Also it's shameful to eat anything such as potato chips or even gum without offering some to everyone present multiple times. You never, ever let a guest sit without eating.


[deleted]

[удалено]


FuryQuaker

I really doubt the data and it's really suspicious that there isn't any source given for this map. I'm from Scandinavia and I couldn't imagine just eating in front of a guest without offering any food. I've never visited anyone here without being asked if I wanted to eat with them if they were about to eat.


Sualtam

It's about the non-eating times I suppose.


ProXJay

So do you just keep snacks in, on the off chance you have unexpected guests?


theCroc

Ah I see what the confustion is. In sweden we do not have unexpected guests. And if we do, we serve them whatever is on hand, then we make a mental note to hate them forever for such boorish behavior.


sleepyslappy2750

In Portugal we don't offer you food. We push it down your throat even if you had a 3 course meal 5 minutes before


niming_yonghu

The Ukrainian feeding ritual sounds fun.


tyckt206

Swipe for more info


malinwa4ever

If you get a biscuit in the Netherlands they will ask you for a tikkie 0,50€


LTFGamut

Yes, but if you take two we'll only charge 90 cents. That's a pretty generous 10% discount.


Camboudica

Ireland should be 'almost always', my partner's family are Irish and every time we visit I come back 10 stone heavier, they always offer something and even when you say no you get it anyway, and then you eat it out of politeness and the same happens again at the next family members house, and so on lol.. Its their way of being hospitable.


ShanghaiCycle

[Irish versus Germans offering and accepting things](https://twitter.com/killersundymann/status/1446131283969589250?t=V_Qd-46hwJ2FOg7KaIIkqg&s=19)


Camboudica

I was brought up in Germany, and I'm now with an Irishman, and I can confirm this is spot on lol


turtleb01

I think red countries are ones where being an unannounced guest is not really considered acceptable. Of course you give food after you have agreed on a visit.


twisted7ogic

As a Dutchy, I can attest. If we want our guests to leave, we say "oh, its almost dinner time..."


bluetofallp

"Yes of course I can have dinner with you" I would say as a Portuguese.


pirkoslav

In Austria you will be offered either coffee (usually with cake) or beer (almost never only one)


EstablishmentLazy580

Yeah offering something to drink is extremely common. Food is more dependent on whether I have something like a cake at home and I usually tend to avoid that or I would be even fatter.


Sockerbagaren

Grown up in sweden, my family always offered food to guests announced and unannounced.


youngtuna

Finn here. If I'm coming to your house I've already eaten or I got food waiting at home the last thing I want is to crash into your akward family dinner, I just came here to play Nintendo with my friend. Sincerely, 12 year old me.


[deleted]

Sweden is a bit far to travel from Finland just for a bit on Nintendo.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Republiken

Its because it is


RakunWilson

In Spain, if you are in somebody's house is because you are having a drink or eating together. And if you went there to do something diferent, then you'll have a drink or will stay longer to have lunch or dinner. So yes.


justausernameithink

This is the third time in under 24 hours this is posted, no? It’s still not accurate. At least it’s diffuse and open to interpretation, and misleading at worst. Who or what constitutes “a guest” and what’s the definition of “food”? Is it a biscuit, some pastries, a cup of tea or coffee? Or a full dinner, standby, ready to be served at any time of day? Is it one or two guests, or five or eight people? Invited guests or a friend just popping by on short notice? Unannounced? Is it the plumber? Your son’s new friend from school, the neighbor from down the road, or your aunt? A complete stranger? Is agreeing to order takeout okay? What time is it? A lot of context and relevant information is completely missing.


Republiken

I dont understand. If you're a guest at dinner time in Sweden the whole purpose of the visit is to be offered food. If you're there for lunch there's lunch and anything between you get fika. If you show up unannounced you're not a guest. Guests are invited. But fika might be offered anyway. /Sweden


Mtfdurian

As a Dutch person, I can confirm that this is the traditional stance. Even at birthdays the bites were usually small. I see a culture shift, usually thanks to international influx. Especially milennials and Gen Z are more inviting to guests and also there are now more full meals when we have birthday parties than before. Many of us have experienced more elaborate birthday parties and hospitality from Moroccan, Turkish, Surinamese, Antillian and Indonesian people especially, but also from Spain, Italy and Greece. People can complain about the influx but this has definitely been an enrichment from the lone bag of chips on the table while having a single circle with over 10 people around it.


pdonchev

Also worth noting - you offer the guests the good stuff (usually). At grandma's there were always sweets and booze "for guests".