Lunch/Dinner or Dinner/Supper?

[Mike Wooldridge]

I was reading a thread about what people eat for the noon and evening meals on Sunday. I got to thinking about what those meals are actually called. When I was growing up in Texas in the '50s and '60s the noon meal was dinner and the evening meal supper. When I went to SNU (BNC) in '71 that seemed to have changed to lunch for the noon meal and dinner for the evening. Now I rarely hear a meal called "supper" unless it's a light meal served late in the evening.
What were your meals called? Have the names changed over time, and in the different places where you've lived?
Mike

[Brad Mercer]

My family is from Arkansas and Texas, where I and my wife and kids have also lived mosts of their lives. My dad always says that the biggest meal of the day is always dinner, so it's either lunch and dinner or dinner and supper, depending on whether the noon or evening meal is the big meal of the day.

In practice, however, we always said (and still say) breakfast, lunch and supper. Except now, since moving to Australia this past September we find that they always say lunch and dinner. Supper means apparently a very light meal sometime later than the evening dinner, but I don't think I've actually experienced that, yet. At any rate, if we want to communicate most effectively we have to remember to call the regular evening meal dinner rather than supper.

Brad

[Michael B. Ross]

Mike, it depends on the day of the week. We have breakfast, lunch and supper. If the evening meal is somewhat formal or special in some way, it diverts to becoming a dinner. Sunday noon meal, however, is always dinner if served at home with family and/or guests.

I was reading a thread about what people eat for the noon and evening meals on Sunday. I got to thinking about what those meals are actually called. When I was growing up in Texas in the '50s and '60s the noon meal was dinner and the evening meal supper. When I went to SNU (BNC) in '71 that seemed to have changed to lunch for the noon meal and dinner for the evening. Now I rarely hear a meal called "supper" unless it's a light meal served late in the evening.
What were your meals called? Have the names changed over time, and in the different places where you've lived?
Mike

[Cecil Wallace]

When I was growing up in Texas in the '50s and '60s the noon meal was dinner and the evening meal supper.
Also having grown up in Texas, meals were referred to as: breakfast, dinner and supper.
BTW, my "growing up" was a bit earlier than yours, in Houston, in the 30's - 50's era.
I still use those terms for meals, but it may vary by calling the noon meal "lunch" on occasion.

[Marsha Lynn]

Mike, it depends on the day of the week. We have breakfast, lunch and supper. If the evening meal is somewhat formal or special in some way, it diverts to becoming a dinner. Sunday noon meal, however, is always dinner if served at home with family and/or guests.

Yep, that's the rule here, too. You must be from Indiana.

:basic03

[Michael B. Ross]

Oh, I've been through it. Actually, now that I am back in Indiana, I realize I am a true-blooded Hoosier. I am even saying Mango now for green peppers.

I was through Washington Sunday and saw the Odon turnoff before Elnora.

Hey, are you going to post any of Sondra's adventures? I find that whole thing very exciting. I am happy for her opportunity.

Yep, that's the rule here, too. You must be from Indiana.

:basic03

[Marg Shurtliff]

Its breakfast , lunch and supper except Sunday when lunch becomes dinner .

[Doris Grant]

Well I think most of us are on the same page, here in West Virginia we say breakfast, lunch and supper. I am suprised because I thought more people refered to supper as dinner. See what I get for thinking.

Doris

[Jim Franklin]

It's all "chow."

[Anita F. Henck]

Monday through Saturday -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Sunday -- breakfast, dinner, and leftovers

[Glenda Harvey]

My mom was from Texas, she always said breakfast, lunch and supper. I say breakfast, lunch & dinner.

[Michael B. Ross]

Thanksgiving Day is in a class of its own: Breakfast, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner........

I was reading a thread about what people eat for the noon and evening meals on Sunday. I got to thinking about what those meals are actually called. When I was growing up in Texas in the '50s and '60s the noon meal was dinner and the evening meal supper. When I went to SNU (BNC) in '71 that seemed to have changed to lunch for the noon meal and dinner for the evening. Now I rarely hear a meal called "supper" unless it's a light meal served late in the evening.
What were your meals called? Have the names changed over time, and in the different places where you've lived?
Mike