Dynamics and diversity in the practice of receiving guests among the middle class in Poznań, Poland

Abstract

The article discusses the diversity of norms, beliefs and habits related to hosting guests in the home space. Five models of receiving guests were presented, taken from the study of everyday practices of the Poznań middle class. Special attention was paid to the ways of preparing and consuming a meal together. Differences between individual types of hospitality were determined by the following axes: flexibility versus stability of borders, care for manners versus aversion to manners; positive and negative politeness and symmetry and asymmetry of the guest-host relationship.