Table ablutions : Use consisting in rinsing the fingers during a meal.
In the Roman liturgy, ablution consisted of pouring wine and water on the priest's fingers after Communion. In Europe, since the fork has become essential, we no longer use the aquamanile (ewer with a basin). in which we used to wash our hands, and moist towelette (finger bowl) only appear on the table with the asparagus, artichokes, frogs, shellfish and sea food and some small birds when served whole.