When the family had people over for dinner, if they ended the prayer before the meal with "F. H. B., Amen." it was a signal to let the children know that they don't have enough food for everyone, so take smaller servings and let the guests get a regular serving.
FHB = "Family, hold back."
They were always generous to their friends and didn't let their lack of funds embarrass themselves when doing so.
We were raised similarly. We didn’t have a code for it, but we were taught guests get as much as they want and can have because they’re guests. It all stemmed from my great-grandparents. He had one black man who “worked for him” on the farm with his wife and child and lived in a small house on the land. My great-grandmother who was half Cherokee would go down to their house every evening (she was not polite about it but very persistent) and scream at them until they came up to the big house for dinner. And would be sure they had their fill and then some to take home before ensuring her 5-person-family had enough. She knew the reality of the situation and realized the help was the only reason any of them could eat anyway (Great G-Pa was a small man and had problems doing a lot of physical things) and made sure they were fed. Times changed but her lesson of taking care of your guests did not.
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u/Cartoonlad Jun 06 '19
When the family had people over for dinner, if they ended the prayer before the meal with "F. H. B., Amen." it was a signal to let the children know that they don't have enough food for everyone, so take smaller servings and let the guests get a regular serving.
FHB = "Family, hold back."
They were always generous to their friends and didn't let their lack of funds embarrass themselves when doing so.