Leaving a tip today seems like a common part of the — service culture, especially in restaurants, cafes or salons. But few people wonder where this tradition came from and why it has taken hold in some countries and almost disappeared in others.
Word “tips” it comes from the custom of leaving money “per tea”, that is, as a thank you for the good service. In Europe, this appeared around the 17–XVIII centuries, when visitors to taverns and coffee shops threw several coins into special boxes with the inscription “To Insure Promptness” (“ to ensure service speed”) — hence, by the way, the abbreviation comes from “tip” in English.
At first, tips were a voluntary sign of gratitude, but over time they turned into a social norm. In the 19th century, especially in Britain, France and the USA, leaving money after service was considered a sign of upbringing. Those who did not tip looked stingy or rude.
The system eventually spread to restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, taxis — and even musicians who performed in venues. At the same time, it caused a lot of controversy. Some historians believe that the popularization of tips in the United States after the abolition of slavery was a way to avoid full pay for service personnel —, because employers transferred responsibility for the income of employees to customers.
Today, the attitude towards tips in the world is very different:
In the USA and Canada tipping — is almost mandatory and accounts for 15–25% of the bill.
In most European countries (in particular, in Ukraine) — is a nice bonus, usually 5–10%, which is left for good work.
In Japan, China and Korea tipping is not accepted — it can even be considered an insult, because there good service is part of a professional honor, not a bargaining chip.
In Ukraine, the tradition of tipping has appeared since the time of Austria-Hungary — mainly in Lviv, Odessa and major cities. Today, it has become the norm for restaurants, coffee shops and delivery services, although it remains voluntary.
So, tipping — is not just money “for tea”, but an ancient social ritual of gratitude that reflects the level of culture, attitude to service and even the history of labor relations.
