KNIVES AND FORKS
Most Americans did not begin using forks until the Civil war. Until then most used their fingers to eat, knives to cut their meat, and spoons with pencil-like handles to eat soups or stews.
During colonial times forks were used in restaurants; at home they were mainly used in the kitchen and to hold meat while cutting it.
As recently as 1897, British sailors could not use knives and forks to eat because it was considered unmanly.
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