The Parlour

I grew up in a house with a living room. I thought it was odd that the living room was like a museum. It had all the good furniture, and spending time in it was highly discouraged. That was for the family room. I guess I should feel fortunate that the furniture didn't have plastic slipcovers.

The only times we really used the living room were when guests came over. They would be entertained there.  OK, we did at times play some kind of game in there which involved a pillow because it was the largest space in the house. But it was highly discouraged, and I can't say I blame my parents for that.

I've joked about the name all my life. Apparently never tiring of the joke that the living room was for anything but living. Thanks to Bourdain I believe, I've recently become aware, though I may have known and forgotten previously, that such a room is more properly called a parlour. I imagine this comes from the french verb, parler, to speak, and it makes perfect sense. It's for welcoming and entertaining guests. To the modern ear that name sounds rather Victorian and old-fashioned, but it's accurate so why not use it? Why an ice cream parlour isn't called an ice cream living room I don't know.