# Etiquette of saying grace at meals **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-saying-grace-at-meals/285586 "2005-01-19T18:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-saying-grace-at-meals/285586/41 "2005-01-21T14:33:22Z")
> [@Othersider](#): > > Chances are good if he’s a Baptist, and decent if he’s not (he seems rather old-fashioned) he’s considered the “head” of his household. As the head of a household, most of us would agree he has the obligation, more than anyone else, to not alienate his guests. After all, why invite people over if you’re just going to piss them off and make them want to leave? Funnily enough I went to a BBQ at the home of the only baptists I know on Monday. We had been eating for 5-10 minutes when I suddenly realised no one had said grace. I kinda felt guilty, I felt they had not said it because I was there. I was bought up in a no-grace-ever-ever-ever household and I know this family usually say grace. Obviously they were very polite but I felt a bit guilty they broke their rules because I was in their house. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-saying-grace-at-meals/285586/42 "2005-01-21T15:15:48Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I don’t pray, but following the bellowing, I would have apologied and asked if I could be permitted to say grace. > > Then: > > “Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub! Yea God!” My dad actually used this as the prayer once or twice (certainly not when we had company!) He even used hand signals: “Rub-a-dub-dub” _(rub belly with one hand)_ “Rub-a-dub-dub” _(rub belly again)_ “Yea God!” _(raise hands and wave like you are at a revival)_ “Thanks for the grub!” _(said with hands folded in prayer)_ No, pious wouldn’t be a good adjective to describe him… ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-saying-grace-at-meals/285586/43 "2005-01-21T15:21:43Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > No, pious wouldn’t be a good adjective to describe him… Yet perhaps more sincere than the OP’s example. Human developed propriety aside, it takes care of the basics: 1. We’re hungry 2. We appreciate this food 3. God is cause for celebration 4. Thanks! While number 3, and therefore the “Yea, God” might be off-putting to some of your more radical atheists, even the most hard core can’t find fault with 1,2 and 4. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-saying-grace-at-meals/285586/44 "2005-01-21T17:01:54Z")
My cousins do the “rub-a-dub-dub-yea-God!” thing after saying the traditional “Bless Us, Oh Lord” prayer. They raise their hands in the air and everything. Since they’re kids, I think it’s cute, and I usually participate when I’m eating over at their house. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-of-saying-grace-at-meals/285586.md?page=2)