Hospitality means friendly and generous treatment and entertainment of guests or strangers, especially in one’s home. Derives from the Latin hospes, meaning “host”, “guest”, or “stranger”. Hospes is formed from hostis, which means “stranger” or “enemy” (the latter being where terms like “hostile” derive). By metonymy, the Latin word ‘Hospital’ means a guest-chamber, guest’s lodging, and an inn. Hospes/hostis is thus the root for the English words host, hospitality, hospice, hostel, and hotel. There was a time when hospitality was used to be encouraged in the entire sub-continent. People could travel hundreds of miles without a single penny. Gone are those days. Nowadays people have become commercial in their manners and etiquette. They do not take pains to entertain any stranger. But in all religions hospitality is encouraged. In ancient cultures, hospitality involved welcoming the stranger and offering him food, shelter, and safety. Hospitality brings peace and amity in the society. It teaches people to be generous and patient. It, of course, lessens violence and class conflict of a society. Here lies the importance of hospitality. To form a better and healthier society we need to practice hospitality at home and away.
Paragraph On Hospitality
