I love potlucks!!!?!
Answers: We just had one at work and I'm wondering who thought of calling this gathering of people and food a "potluck"? Why "potluck"?
Got this off the internet:
Every so often somebody invites me to a potluck, especially during the holiday season. Thinking on it I decided that no one would call themselves lucky after tasting what I brought in my pot. Where does this term come from? After talking to some friends we concluded, without any true research, that it is derived from the potlatch ceremonies of the Northwest Indians. I'm not quite satisfied with this. Can you help me? --Shane, Brooklyn, NY
The current usage would lead one to associate it with the potlatch of Native Americans of the northwest, but the true origin is in the Middle Ages, in Europe.
The potlatch was a big celebration--often the host would give all his possessions away. The modern notion of bringing dishes to share (in essence, giving away what you have) seems like a natural extension of this idea.
It may be natural, but it's wrong. The term potluck comes from the traditional practice (not that it's entirely unknown among us moderns) of never throwing anything away. Meal leftovers would be put into a pot and kept warm, and could be used to feed people on short notice. This practice was especially prevalent in taverns and inns in medieval times, so that when you showed up for a meal, you took the "luck of the pot." A related term found its way into French usage, as an impromptu meal at home is often referred to as pot au feu, literally "pot on the fire."
Another related term, in a way, is "potboiler." A potboiler is a specimen of hack literature, generally produced quickly using recycled situations and characters to bring in some cash and keep the author's pot boiling. Like the potluck, a potboiler is a bit of a mishmash, not without its tasty aspects, but hardly something you'd mistake for gourmet.
This explains it all.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potluck
Luck of the pot is how my family always sees it, never know if you are getting something really tasty or what lol
Here is info I found on it for you =) sounds right to me =)
The term "potluck" has two meanings; both practices are related and have ancient roots:
1. Taking one's chances with what is being served (in the cooking pot)
---Travelers and other unexpected guests took their chances (luck!) with whatever was being served that night.
2. Community meal composed of food contributions.
---Early societies often pooled food resources for special occasions (weddings, funerals, etc.)
Pot Luck is all about, "what you have"! Put a dish together, with what is in the pantry! ( I think our Mom's & Grandma's) were better at this than we are! They planned and knew, everything they had! The inventory, was in their head! The fridge could be empty, on a Wednesday, yet, you come home to the smells of Heaven! They threw a soup or stew together, that would last 3 days! They "knew" payday was Friday, and shop, Saturday! Yet, "they" could feed you, "ANYDAY" ! Amazing, isn't it? I Think so, too!