A bouquet of chopsticks quotes.

 

It's commonly known that the Chinese invented chopsticks as a set of instruments to be used when eating but the reason behind that is not commonly known. Actually, the Chinese were taught to use chopsticks long before spoons and forks were invented in Europe (the knife is older, not as an instrument for dining but as a weapon). According to the California Academy of Sciences, which houses the Rietz Collection of Food Technology, chopsticks were developed about 5,000 years ago in China. Chopsticks were strongly advocated by the great Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479BC). Chinese people, under the cultivation of Confucianism, consider the knife and fork bearing sort of violence, like cold weapons. However, chopsticks reflect gentleness and benevolence, the main moral teaching of Confucianism. Therefore, instruments used for killing must be banned from the dining table, and that is why Chinese food is always chopped into bite-size before it reaches the table.

Thousands of years ago the Chinese had an entirely codified kitchen while the French were still gnawing on bones. Chopsticks have been popularly around since the fourth century B.C. Forks didn't show up in England until 1611, and even then they weren't meant for eating but just to hold the meat still while you hacked at it with your knife. - Ruth Reichl

In their early history, Japanese chopsticks provided a bridge between the human and the divine. Rather than for taking ordinary meals, they were used, at first, for sharing food with the Gods. It was believed that when a pair of chopsticks was offered to a deity, the chopsticks became inhabited by that deity.

There are countless theories about why Koreans use metal chopsticks. One theory is that silver chopsticks would change colour, and therefore warn the nobility if their food was poisoned. Eating your food with utensils of silver or even gold would also symbolize wealth and power, but as cheaper metals, such as steel, became easier to produce, the rest of the people could also eat with utensils fit for a king.

In Chinese culture, apart from being used for eating meals, chopsticks can also be given as a blessing or present.

Custom chopsticks are an ideal and auspicious wedding gift. They represent happiness and abundance in the family. Chopsticks in Chinese is “kuaizi”, which sounds very similar to the word “kuaile”, which means happiness in Chinese. Thus, giving chopsticks to the couple represents giving them happiness.

Sending chopsticks to a new couple as a wedding present means they are a perfect marriage match (as two chopsticks are perfectly matched for one another) and it expresses hope that they will soon give birth to a son (the Chinese for chopsticks is kuaizi, which sounds like kuai zi meaning 'quickly a son').

During a festival or birthday, Chinese people like to give pairs of chopsticks to friends or relatives; it means that they are giving them “happiness.”

Besides friends and relatives, Chinese people also send pairs of chopsticks to their business partners. Since chopsticks should be used in pairs, in Chinese culture, it stands for close “hézuò” cooperation between two parties in the business.

Sending chopsticks between lovers means wishes for a forever love and that they will never break up or be separated.

Between friends, chopsticks mean equality, deep friendship, and harmony.

Giving chopsticks to a teacher speaks of honesty and integrity, as well as great rewards.

Chopsticks mean eternal happiness and longevity when given to seniors.

Chopsticks given to youngsters are to wish them fast and healthy growth.

Chopsticks can mean keeping a long international friendship with friends.

Chopstick gifts mean long-term cooperation between business partners.

When given to new movers, chopsticks mean making a fortune in the new house quickly and living happily.

In Japanese, Meoto-bashi means two pairs of chopsticks. “Meoto” means a couple, and “bashi” or “hashi” means chopsticks. One pair is longer than the other. Most Japanese chopsticks gift sets are Meoto-bashi. The gift means “May your couple be together forever by using Meoto-bashi together every day.”

There are superstitions associated with chopsticks too. If you find an uneven pair at your table setting, it means you are going to miss a boat, plane or train. Dropping chopsticks will inevitably bring bad luck. Crossed chopsticks are, however, permissible in a dim sum restaurant. The waiter will cross them to show that your bill has been settled, or you can do the same to show the waiter that you have finished and are ready to pay the bill.

The cheapest gadget - and you don't even have to spend a dime - is chopsticks from a Chinese restaurant. I use them for everything: to toss salads, to turn a piece of meat in the pan, to flip croquettes in the Fryolator, to whisk eggs for omelettes, to stir eggs into fried rice when I make that for my family. - Jose Andres Puerta

I don't want to get burned when I'm cooking. To avoid getting hit when pan-frying, I stand far away and use chopsticks that are almost two feet long. I learned it from my mom, who does the same thing. - Eddie Huang

Now two jokes for your humour:

I tried to teach my grandma how to eat noodles with chopsticks. She accidentally made a sweater.

A man is sent to Hell. He arrives in a room where everyone is sitting at a round table trying to eat with 3 feet long chopsticks. No one is getting anything to eat, even though there is plenty of food, and all are unhappy. The man is then sent to Heaven where he walks into an identical room, everything is exactly the same, but everyone is well-fed and happy. How? Each one is feeding the other opposite to them.

By the way, the fear of chopsticks is called 'Consecotaleophobia'.