A communal meal is a meal eaten by a group of people. It often but not always serves a social, symbolic and/or ceremonial purpose. For some, the act of eating communally defines humans as compared to other species. [1] Communal meals have long been of interest to both archeologists [2] [3] and anthropologists. [4] [5] [6] [7] Much scholarly work about communal eating has focused on special occasions but everyday practices of eating together with friends, family or colleagues is also a form of communal eating. [8] [9]
Communal eating is closely bound up with commensality (the sociological concept of eating with other people). [10] [11] Communal eating is also bound up with eating and drinking together to cement relations, to establish boundaries and hierarchies as well as for pleasure. [11]
Some examples of communal meals are the Native American potlatch, the Christian Agape feast, the Thanksgiving meal, cocktail parties, and company picnics.
A communal meal is a meal eaten by a group of people. It often but not always serves a social, symbolic and/or ceremonial purpose. For some, the act of eating communally defines humans as compared to other species. [1] Communal meals have long been of interest to both archeologists [2] [3] and anthropologists. [4] [5] [6] [7] Much scholarly work about communal eating has focused on special occasions but everyday practices of eating together with friends, family or colleagues is also a form of communal eating. [8] [9]
Communal eating is closely bound up with commensality (the sociological concept of eating with other people). [10] [11] Communal eating is also bound up with eating and drinking together to cement relations, to establish boundaries and hierarchies as well as for pleasure. [11]
Some examples of communal meals are the Native American potlatch, the Christian Agape feast, the Thanksgiving meal, cocktail parties, and company picnics.