Transformation of the social practice of hospitality in European culture

The article examines the transformation of the social practice of hospitality, which involves the admission of other people into an individual’s or family’s private living space. Being a cultural universal, the custom of receiving guests and visiting others has existed in all societies but varied depending on numerous factors. One of the most significant factors was the attitude towards private space, which, unlike public space, implies closedness to outsiders. In traditional societies, there was not yet a clear boundary between public and private, and the home was open to visits from relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances. In industrial society, as a result of the rise of individualism, there developed a need for solitude, leading to stricter regulation of admitting outsiders into the home, which served as private space for the nuclear family. Meetings with strangers were preferably held in public places such as pubs, cafes, and clubs, open to all interested parties. In the digital post-industrial society, due to the proliferation of information and communication technologies, many forms of social interaction are transferred to the Internet, and the role of the home, where guests are invited, is played by blogs and users’ electronic diaries.