Breaking Bread. Could there  possibly be Table Etiquette rules about eating a piece of bread? Yes!

It is not good table manners to pick up a piece of bread and use it as a baton. The etiquette rule being, don’t talk and wave your bread around in the air to emphasize your point.

Take one piece of bread, or break off one piece of bread, at a time from the serving dish or basket.

Break your bread into reasonably sized pieces. Not too small but bigger than bite size.

To butter your bread, rest the piece of bread against your plate. It is not good table manners to hold the slice of bread in the palm of your hand to butter it.

Butter one piece of bread at a time. Finish eating that piece before helping yourself to another piece of bread.

Place the butter knife on the side plate, after it has been used.

Butter is served in several different ways. It may be served as a stick of butter on a little serving plate, in a small dish filled with whipped butter or small balls of butter, or little individually wrapped pats of butter.

Eat with your mouth closed. Chew each bite and swallow before putting more  food into your mouth.

Do not reach across the table. Politely ask someone to pass you the bread basket remembering those magic words, “Please” and “Thank you.”