Meeting Etiquette
- Tunisians take their time during greetings to converse about their families, friends, and other general topics.
- Handshakes are the customary greeting among individuals of the same gender.
- In any greeting between men and women, the woman must extend her hand first. If she does not, a man should simply bow his head in acknowledgment.
- At parties or other social gatherings your hosts will introduce you, usually starting with the women and then moving on to the men in a rough approximation of age order, oldest to youngest.
- Greet and say good-bye to each person individually.
Gift Giving Etiquette
- If you are invited to a Tunisian's home bring pastries, nuts, fruit, cake, candy, or flowers to the hostess.
- Do not bring alcohol unless you know that your host drinks.
- Gifts are not opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Tunisian's home:
- You may be asked to remove your shoes.
- Dress well. Dressing well demonstrates respect towards your hosts.
- Check to see if your spouse is included in the invitation. Conservative Tunisians may not entertain mixed-sex groups. In fact, you may never meet the host's wife!
- Complement the house.
Table manners
- Food is traditionally served at a knee-high round table but this has now changed to match the European habits of table and chairs.
- The guest of honor generally sits next to the host.
- A washing basin will be brought to the table before the meal is served. Hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. - Dry your hands on the towel provided.
- Males and females may often eat separately: men first and then women.
- Do not begin eating until the host blesses the food or begins to eat.
- Food is served from a communal bowl.
- Eat from the section of the bowl that is in front of you. Never reach across the bowl to get something from the other side. As an honored guest, choice morsels will be put in front of you.
- Food is eaten by knives and forks. You will be given a spoon to eat couscous.
- Eat only with the right hand.
- It is considered good manners to try a bit of everything.
- The washing basin will be brought around the table again at the end of the meal.
- Expect to be urged to take more food from the communal plate.
Tunisian Family Values
- The family is the most significant unit of Tunisian life and plays an important role in all social relations.
- The individual is always subordinate to the family or group.
- The family consists of both the nuclear and the extended family.
