eating

You may not know it, but the fork is a relatively new invention, especially when comparing it to the spoon and the knife. So much so, that it only became popular in the United States in the 19th century. Tracing the history of the humble fork can tell us a lot about society, religion, and even gender stereotypes. Associated with Eastern decadence, the fork was once seen as blasphemous and effeminate. One story holds that the fork, as a personal eating utensil, was first brought to Europe when a Byzantine princess married the Doge of Venice in the 11th century. The fork in question was a two-tined gold folk which she used to eat preserved fruits to avoid sticky fingers