Day of Paper Napkins: A Celebration of a Common Thing That Changed Our Everyday LifeAugust 1st. In the calendar, the height of summer, heat, holidays. But for millions of people around the world, this date means more than just a day in the calendar. It's the Day of Paper Napkins — an unofficial, heartwarming celebration that reminds us how often we fail to notice the important things in the ordinary. It's about how even the simplest thing — a paper napkin — has its own history, its own traditions, and even its own day of the year. This celebration is dedicated to everyday and seemingly unnoticed items that play an important role in our lives. Because we use them every day, almost without thinking about the vital role paper napkins play in maintaining cleanliness and order around us.From fig leaves to asbestos towels: how people wiped before the invention of napkinsToday, paper napkins seem so habitual that it's hard to imagine life without them. But that wasn't always the case. In ancient times, conceptions of hygiene were quite different. In Ancient Greece, around 3,5 thousand years ago, the first mentions of dining napkins appeared. These were fig leaves with which slaves wiped the faces and soiled hands of their masters. In Ancient Rome, the napkin appeared about 2000 years ago, while earlier there was a habit of wiping hands and spoons about the edge of a tablecloth or sleeves. Roman dining napkins were made from asbestos fibers and were considered expensive items. They were a privilege of the wealthy and noble citizens and were considered a luxury. Names and surnames were embroidered on napkins of that time.In Ancient Egypt, fig tree leaves were used for cleaning hands and faces. In Greece, bread served as a one-time means of removing dirt. In medieval Europe, bearded and bearded men were trendsetters who used napkins to clean up food remnants. The function of a napkin was often performed by a long piece of linen fabric that lay on the table and passed from gue ... Read more