Samoograniczająca się towarzyskość. Żywność, alkohol i kawa oraz trzy zasady z ekonomiki gościnności

In: Kultura i społeczeństwo: kwartalnik, Volume 64, Issue 1, p. 107-127

Abstract

The author of the text focuses on the economics of everyday life as defined by a contextual and qualitative measuring of various aspects of hospitality through the use of terms such as "more," "less," and "just right." He analyzes the presence of food, alcohol, and coffee during the visit of guests. Each of these three material components of hospitality is regulated according to specific principles: "too much is better than too little" in regard to food, "too little is better than too much" for alcohol, and there has to be "at least" coffee. A detailed analysis of these principles leads to the conclusion that Polish hospitality is today oriented toward moderation. The popular belief in the abundance of Polish hospitality as a national feature is thus called into question.