England: Pass the Port to the Left, and Know the Bishop of Norwich
In England, port is continuously passed to the left side of the table until it’s finished. Some say this has to do with naval tradition — the port side of a boat is on your left if you’re facing the helm — but the true reason is unclear. If the port is not passed, it’s considered impolite to ask for it. Instead, a neighbor can ask the person who has it, “Do you know the Bishop of Norwich?” If they reply that they don’t know him, the response is, “He’s a very good chap, but he always forgets to pass the port.”
