Usually three or five dishes, fish, meat, soup with two ingredients. In ancient times, the third meal eaten by death row inmates before execution was called decapitated meal, and the standard of ancient prison meal was one meat and one vegetable (extremely bad fat and carrion). One of the privileges of the condemned prisoners before execution is that they can go on the road after eating enough, so the beheading dishes will be much richer than usual.

Why can't I have the last course?

Because there is a saying in China that "yes man", three dishes are singular, and no good idiom begins with three words. The three words are homophonic, and then everyone eats together. The picture shows reunion, which is too unlucky. So when a restaurant serves three courses, the host won't let you eat first. Sometimes, the waiter will take down a dish first and raise a glass to celebrate two dishes.

Five reasons why dishes don't come to the table

The reason why five dishes can't be served on the table is related to the local customs and habits in China. The original sentence is that three people don't serve, and five dishes don't serve. The custom pays attention to pairs, such as the banquet hosted by the red and white affairs in southern Shanxi, and pays more attention to four or four, six or six, eight bowls and perfect seats. One seat for four people, eight people and ten people are also doubles. National customs and habits are a way of life formed by a nation in a certain natural and social environment. It is embodied in production, residence, diet, clothing, marriage, funeral, festivals, entertainment, etiquette, taboos and so on. To varying degrees, it reflects the historical tradition, psychological feelings, moral standards and religious concepts of this nation. As the external expression of national characteristics, customs and habits have a very important influence on the development of the nation.