abstract | - Hospitality is sacred. The host must not harm the guest, the guest must not harm the host, and not offering in the first place is a serious affront. In Ancient Greek, hospitality was called xenia and was sacred; Zeus was called Zeus Xenios in his function as god and guarantor of hospitality and protectors of guests. Less popular in modern times with the rise in hotels and forms of transport that mean twenty miles is not a day's journey, but Older Than Feudalism and of vast historical importance. Because it's less important nowadays, the extreme punishments dealt out to people who abuse or refuse hospitality in classic tales appear disproportionate. May be the Good Old Ways, practiced in Arcadia and by the Noble Savage. Tastes Like Friendship is closely related. The host/guest bond may in fact be triggered by their eating salt together. Often explicitly invoked in No, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Dine. Vampire Invitation is closely related, though a being bound by both rules is going to find it very difficult to hurt anyone. Common in Sweet Home Alabama. Frequently results in Angel Unaware. Often a result of Bedouin Rescue Service. If played up in an inappropriate setting or to a ridiculous extent, it's Stranger Safety. Contrast with Food Chains where it isn't safe to eat anything. For the ultimate violation, see Nasty Party. Examples of Sacred Hospitality include:
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