How come 3rd meal of the day is called 'tea'

[mat64]

Isn't afternoon tea considered sort of a snacking period? Before that it was when you would have tea and biscuits, scones etc.

Seems something like that, Found this on Wikipedia;

Afternoon tea (or Low tea) is a light meal typically eaten at 4 o'clock. It originates in the United Kingdom, though various places in the former British Empire also have such a meal. However, most Britons no longer eat such a meal. Traditionally, loose tea would be served in a teapot with milk and sugar. This would be accompanied by various sandwiches (customarily cucumber, egg and cress, fish paste (bloater), ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with butter, clotted cream and jam — see cream tea) and usually cakes and pastries (such as Battenburg, fruit cake or Victoria sponge). The food would be often served in a tiered stand.
While afternoon tea used to be an everyday event, nowadays it is more likely to be taken as a treat in a hotel, café, or tea shop, although many Britons still have a cup of tea and slice of cake or chocolate at teatime. Accordingly, many hotels now market a champagne cream tea.

[dannyisnotamazing]

I go Breakfast - Dinner - Tea - Supper .

[cocaine]

its not, its called dinner.

[mat64]

I miss out supper now, It's probley because I eat when I need to after dinner. Usually just junk but all the same .

its not, its called dinner.

Not strictly true. Found this on Wiki;

Especially in East Anglia and the North of England, tea as a meal is synonymous with dinner in Standard English. Under such usage, the afternoon tea meal is sometimes termed dinner, or called 'afternoon tea' or 'high tea' so as to differentiate it from just plain 'tea', the evening meal. In parts of Scotland, the Midlands and North-West of England, the term 'dinner' replaces lunch and 'tea' is synonymous with the main evening meal.

I'd agree with that, You hear tea alot in Northen England. Not as much now but to me it's all dependent on what your family calls that meal. We've always called it Dinner but my friend calls it Tea as that's what his family has always called it.

[Wootzeh]

Breakfast - Dinner/Lunch - Tea

[Browney]

Breakfast - Lunch - Tea - Supper

[Roboevil]

It's just colloquial, dinner is the correct phrase that should be used.

[SusieC]

Isn't afternoon tea considered sort of a snacking period? Before that it was when you would have tea and biscuits, scones etc.

That's it.

But for me it goes Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner.

[Tash.]

You hear tea alot in Northen England. Not as much now but to me it's all dependent on what your family calls that meal. We've always called it Dinner but my friend calls it Tea as that's what his family has always called it.

Yeah I always thought it was a northern thing.. I call my afternoon meal tea and most people do up here, but i've had people question me about it (mostly southerners) because for me its:

Breakfast - Dinner - Tea - Supper

[dirrty]

i live in midlands and i say dinner. but my friend says tea.