modern meaning of "おやつ"?


The dictionary definition of
[おやつ](http://jisho.org/search/%E3%81%8A%E3%82%84%E3%81%A4) is _an afternoon
snack_ . However, that is not what I remember about its usage.

  * White-collar workers never do "おやつ"? They _might_ use it as euphemism for briefly standing and stretching in mid-afternoon?
  * Do blue-collar workers do a real "おやつ" and rest / eat in mid-afternoon?
  * Etymologically speaking, a farmer's お弁当 was his おやつ in 大和 Japan?

The recent thread about "おかず" made me remember "おやつ". But, my memory is a
little fuzzy.




One thing I would need to mention is that the significance of 「おやつ」 as a
custom has decreased dramatically since Edo period. Japan had largely been a
**_two-meal-a-day_** nation until around the middle of Edo. There was no such
thing as lunch for many people.

Naturally, you would become hungry by around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, which
was called 「やつ/やつどき」 by our old system of telling time. So, you would take a
break from work for a snack and tea. It was named 「おやつ」 and it was more of a
necessity than leisure back then. It was, in a way, more like a tiny meal.

In our time, there is lunch and therefore 「おやつ」 is much more optional among
many. (Or at least we could wait till 3 o'clock instead of 2 like we used to,
thanks to lunch.)

>   * White-collar workers never do "おやつ"? They might use it as euphemism for
> briefly standing and stretching in mid-afternoon?
>

Many do, but they do not do it together at a designated time. White-collar
workers often keep snacks in their desk drawers and nibble on them at
different times of the day.

>   * Do blue-collar workers do a real "おやつ" and rest / eat in mid-afternoon?
>

Yes, they tend to do so together and at a designated time (usually 3:00 pm),
which is the huge difference between the two collar colors.

>   * Etymologically speaking, a farmer's お弁当 was his おやつ in 大和 Japan?
>

I do not know the real answer to this, but I suppose one could say that.
Traditionally, farmers have had more food available to them than other types
of workers. If the content of their おやつ had been more meal-like than that of
others, that would not surprise one.




One thing I would need to mention is that the significance of 「おやつ」 as a
custom has decreased dramatically since Edo period. Japan had largely been a
**_two-meal-a-day_** nation until around the middle of Edo. There was no such
thing as lunch for many people.

Naturally, you would become hungry by around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, which
was called 「やつ/やつどき」 by our old system of telling time. So, you would take a
break from work for a snack and tea. It was named 「おやつ」 and it was more of a
necessity than leisure back then. It was, in a way, more like a tiny meal.

In our time, there is lunch and therefore 「おやつ」 is much more optional among
many. (Or at least we could wait till 3 o'clock instead of 2 like we used to,
thanks to lunch.)

>   * White-collar workers never do "おやつ"? They might use it as euphemism for
> briefly standing and stretching in mid-afternoon?
>

Many do, but they do not do it together at a designated time. White-collar
workers often keep snacks in their desk drawers and nibble on them at
different times of the day.

>   * Do blue-collar workers do a real "おやつ" and rest / eat in mid-afternoon?
>

Yes, they tend to do so together and at a designated time (usually 3:00 pm),
which is the huge difference between the two collar colors.

>   * Etymologically speaking, a farmer's お弁当 was his おやつ in 大和 Japan?
>

I do not know the real answer to this, but I suppose one could say that.
Traditionally, farmers have had more food available to them than other types
of workers. If the content of their おやつ had been more meal-like than that of
others, that would not surprise one.

