I’ve been living/spending time in Switzerland and noticed something I haven’t really seen anywhere else: the way many people hold a fork when eating.
It’s usually:
• Fork in the left hand
• Held very upright and high on the handle
• Almost vertical, with strong downward pressure
• Especially noticeable when eating meat
I’m familiar with the general European “fork in the left hand” style, but this specific grip feels distinctly Swiss and, honestly, a bit unsettling to watch 😅
I’m genuinely curious:
• Is this taught in schools or at home?
• Is it considered the “correct” or polite way in Switzerland?
• Or is it just a habit that developed culturally?
Not trying to judge — it’s just one of those small cultural details that really stands out once you notice it.
Curious to hear Swiss and non-Swiss perspectives.
https://i.redd.it/hiem7fmkdm7g1.jpeg
Posted by AndreiXNXN
26 Comments
Yeah I’ve never seen that in my life lmao
I don’t remember seeing this once, except for maybe young children doing similar stuff.
I’ve lived here for 42 years.
never seen that
Never seen an adult around here eat like that before..
Nobody I have ever seen other than kids
Never seen it as dramatic as in the picture, but to answer the question, I guess: habit?
Those are the same people who chew with their mouth open, and moan when taking a dump.
We… Don’t ? I saw a lot of American doing that, but that’s not our way to do it at all !
ancestral memories of stabbing habsburgs.
32 years here never seen that
I do that, but it’s because I have a disability and lack fine control/strength in that hand. I bet this person on the photo is old, and have the same problem as me 🙂 And maybe there are just more and more old people and you see that more often.
Sorry, but as a original swiss guy (born and raised) of soon 43 years old, i have legitimately never seen any local here, holding a fork like that – not even people with physical disabilities that might struggle to hold a fork, knife or spoon the “right” way, for obvious reasons.
I have seen this a few times but more in the rural regions and I have the impression they weren‘t taught at home as the focus was more on teaching the kids how to milk a cow or fix a fence than how to hold a fork. And I‘m saying this in the best way possible, because I think it is more important to know how to milk a cow than how to hold a fork.
Only ever seen that in America.
I’ve seen this on occasion, in Switzerland and elsewhere.
I work from the assumption it’s a) an arthritis hack, b) a particularly tough piece of meat, or c) a person raised by Klingons.
Kommt von unserer Bauern herkunft
They’re old. Old people are awkward
I see this only with kids and seniors.
Kids need to learn – seniors might have problem with rheumatism.
Because no class
Yes, we learn that at the spoon school. This gentleman may even got into spoon uni, he looks posh.
To ensure the steak cannot escape from the plate, when it’s served a bit better than rare.
This is considered as bad manners
I’m Swiss and sadly have to admit a lot of Swiss people are lacking manners compared to other Europeans countries…
no manners
i have seen it, usually people that were raised without manners imho, not so strange
It’s not solely a “Swiss thing.” I’ve seen this throughout the world, but it’s not terribly common. It’s a bit awkward and inelegant, but it gets the job done I suppose.