Wedding Accessories Knowledge Base - What are Serviettes?
A napkin (also in Canada, the United Kingdom,
Australia and South Africa: serviette) is a rectangle of
cloth or tissue paper used at the table for wiping the mouth
while eating. It is usually small and folded. The word comes
from Middle English, borrowing the French nappe—a
cloth covering for a table—and adding -kin, the diminutive
suffix.
In the United Kingdom both terms, serviette
and napkin, are used, with napkin traditionally U and serviette
non-U. In some places, "serviettes" are those
made of paper whereas "napkins" are made of cloth.[1]
The word "serviette" in lieu of term "napkin"
is not typically used in North American English, but may
sometimes be heard in Canada due to French influence.
Conventionally, the napkin is folded and
placed to the left of the place setting, outside the outermost
fork. In an ambitious restaurant setting or a caterer's
hall, it may be folded into more or less elaborate shapes
and displayed on the empty plate. A napkin may also be held
together in a bundle (with cutlery) by a napkin ring. Alternatively,
paper napkins may be contained with a napkin holder.
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