„The word pot-luck“appears in 16th century England, in the work of Thomas Nasche. To the Irish, a potluck was a meal with no particular menu. Everyone participating brought a dish for all to share. The term comes from a time when groups of Irish women would gather together and cook dinner.
Potluck dinners are events where the attendees bring a dish to a meal, are often organized by community groups, since they simplify the meal planning and distribute the costs among the participants. Smaller, more informal get-togethers with distributed food preparation may also be called potlucks.
The only traditional rule is that each dish be large enough to be shared among a good portion (but not necessarily all) of the anticipated guests. In some cases each participant agrees ahead of time to bring a single course, and the result is a multi-course meal. Potluck is popular as an entertaining method, as it reduces the cost to the host of an event. Potluck dinners, brunches, and even potluck wedding receptions are hosted as alternatives to traditional event hosting or catered events.
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