At the dinner table of Beijingers, if you eat fish, you can't turn it over, because it's unlucky. When one side of the fish is ready to eat the other side, we should gather everyone to turn the fish over and continue to eat. Eating fish on the table is very particular, and eating fish "turning over" is the biggest taboo. Fish means boat, and turning over a fish means turning over a boat, which is very unlucky. Especially the older generation seldom turn the fish upside down. When I was a child, anyone who said "turn the fish upside down before eating" at the dinner table would definitely be reprimanded by his elders.
Apart from not being able to turn fish, what are the stresses on the dinner table of old Beijingers?
There are many rules for children in old Beijing to eat from childhood to adulthood. Besides, you can't slurp when eating, and you can't put chopsticks on rice when eating at home. Young people's stools can't be higher than those of their elders. Young people can't eat at the table before they sit down.
There are guests to eat at home, but there is no rice in the guest bowl. Can't you say you want more rice? Do you still eat big meals? Begging is what beggars say in the old society. Eat at home, at the dinner table, or outside, eat the dishes around you, and don't just rummage around in the dishes. If you just rummage around, especially without a tutor.
On New Year's Day and New Year's Eve, the whole family gathered around to make jiaozi and cook jiaozi. We can't say that jiaozi is broken, but we must say that jiaozi has made a profit, which is also auspicious. When eating at home or out, chopsticks should not knock on bowls and plates casually. Why do you say that? Because in the past, beggars knocked on bowls to beg.
When eating at home or having guests, or eating out, there must be rules, that is, you can't put too many chopsticks in each dish, and you can only put three chopsticks in each dish. This is the rule. Old Beijingers eat and are full. When they get off the table, they can't go back. There is no reason to go back. This is the rule and knowledge of eating at the table of old Beijingers, and it is also the rule that old Beijingers must always abide by from childhood to adulthood.