IN FORKS WE TRUST
HOW EUROPE EVENTUALLY STOPPED EATING WITH THEIR HANDS
If you attend a dinner party, go on a date at a restaurant, or eat a plate of pasta, you’ll use a fork without thinking twice. This is proper etiquette — and the cleanest and most efficient way to eat a meal! Could you imagine trying to eat a plate of spaghetti and meatballs without one? Wealthy people in other parts of the world, such as the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East, have been using forks since the 17th century. However, before that, forks were considered to be sacrilegious and rude to use at the dinner table in Europe! In fact, in the 11th century, a Byzantine princess was ridiculed for bringing forks into her new husband's home. Maria Argyropoulina, the Greek niece of Emperor Basil II of Byzantium, arrived in Venice, Italy, prepared to marry Giovanni, the son of Pietro Orseolo II, the Doge of Venice. She brought all of her belongings with her to move into her new house, including a case of golden forks. At the wedding, she
pulled out one of her golden forks to partake in her wedding feast, and the reaction she got took her by surprise.
The clergy lambasted her, saying things like, “God in his wisdom has provided man with natural forks — his fingers. Therefore, it is an insult to him to substitute artificial metal forks for them when eating." However, this didn’t urge the princess to eat with her hands, and she stuck with her forks. Shortly after the marriage, the Byzantine princess, unfortunately, contracted the plague and passed away. Many believed this was “karma” for refusing to eat with her hands and bringing a fork to her husband’s home. But thanks to Maria Argyropoulina, Europe was introduced to the fork and never had to worry about eating spaghetti and meatballs — or any other dish — with their hands again.
Use These Resources to Declutter and Help Others! GIVING MADE EASY
Year to an Organized Life” by Regina Leeds or “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown. As you declutter, remember to prioritize finding new homes for your things with family members, friends, church groups, or local charities. Ideally, your “trash” can be someone else’s treasure. Give Your Time, Skills, or Resources If you don’t already have a go-to charity or cause, check out JustServe.org to find service opportunities near you. You can search by zip code or sign up for the site and fill out a short survey sharing the skills and experience you have to give. Then, it will match you with a cause! If you’re a great cook, JustServe.org might point you to a local soup kitchen, and if you’re handy with a hammer, it could connect you with a church that needs storm repairs. The site even offers virtual
National Give Something Away Day is coming up on July 15, and there’s no better time to declutter your home and give away time, skills, and encouragement to your community! Here are a few resources to help you along the way. Give Your Stuff When you’re overwhelmed by clutter, it can be tough to figure out where to start, so we recommend turning to the experts. Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing
Art of Tidying Up” is a home organization classic for a reason; it’s definitely worth the read. You can also check out the “A Slob Comes Clean” podcast hosted by Dana K. White. She talks about the ongoing process of “deslobification” in
volunteering opportunities. If you’re short on time, you can always donate money or buy items for those in need.
Give Encouragement This is the easiest thing to give. On July 15, share a smile with a stranger, tell your kids you’re proud of them, or compliment your spouse. These small gestures have a big impact.
helpful episodes like “3 Moments When You Should Hesitate (and Declutter)” and “Sometimes Even Interesting Things Need to Go.” If you want to turn your decluttering day into a new lifestyle, read “One
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