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The manners that dictated behavior at a medieval meal began long before the first dish was served. Upon arrival, guests were required to surrender their weapons, signaling safety and propriety. After being granted entry to the dining hall, guests would remove their hoods and gloves, bowing to the hosts seated at the dais—the raised platform indicating their elevated status.
Washing hands was a ritualistic part of dining etiquette. Cleanliness was paramount, not only before the meal but between courses as well. This emphasis on hygiene extended to maintaining clean nails due to the social faux pas of "offending" others with unkempt hands.