![]() I don't think the season of the year has a lot to do with afternoon/evening. Note, though, that the "goodbye" meaning of "good night" is so strong that people will frequently say it as early as, say, 4.30 or 5 pm when leaving work. ![]() Much the same applies to the "evening meal": it marks the start of the evening, and 6 o'clock is probably the average time when people eat (at home, at least). If at 12.15 someone says "Good afternoon" the chances are they've already had their lunch. after noon (at 12.01 pm), though if anyone who is not keepting a strict eye on the clock says to you at 12.45 pm "Good morning" then you know they haven't eaten yet. Strictly speaking, of course, the afternoon begins. The divisions correspond roughly to 12 noon and 6 pm, because it is at around those times that most people eat. (As you correctly pointed out, Magg, "good night" only as a farewell) I think it's tied up with mealtimes (the real cross-cultural difference being the difference in mealtime hours).
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