Why Do Southerners Call Lunch Dinner? Unpacking the Tradition
Explore the Southern tradition of calling lunch 'dinner' and its historical roots in agricultural communities.
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Southerners call lunch 'dinner' because historically, 'dinner' referred to the largest meal of the day, which was often served midday. The evening meal was called 'supper'. This tradition has roots in agricultural communities where workers needed a hearty midday meal for energy. Over time, in some regions, the terminology persisted but due to urbanization and changing work schedules, many people now use 'lunch' for midday meals and 'dinner' for evening meals.
FAQs & Answers
- Why do some Southern families still call lunch 'dinner'? It's a historical practice rooted in when the largest meal was traditionally served in the middle of the day.
- What are the meal terms used in the South? In the South, 'dinner' often refers to lunch, while 'supper' is used for the evening meal.
- How did urbanization affect meal terminology in the South? Urbanization shifted work schedules, leading to more people adopting 'lunch' for midday and 'dinner' for evening meals.
- Are there other regional differences in meal terminology? Yes, various regions have unique terms for meals; for example, some parts of the North may refer to evening meals as 'dinner' but not 'supper'.