The best thing about Christmas morning is the quiet and the contentment in the air. The stockings so carefully hung are strewn on the floor, paper and ribbon everywhere, sipping hot chocolate with mounds of whipped cream and, of course, a roaring fire! The food we serve on this day differs from family to family based on tradition and quite often, passed down from generation to generation. If you were raised in the Catholic Church then you might also know the pure bliss of eating sweets and meat with real gusto! This meal is, after all, the family coming together in all reverence to celebrate the strength of that bond. Setting the table for this gathering is as important as the preparation for an altar . . . china, linen and decoration demonstrate the importance of this gathering of friends and family.
Gone are the days of formality, at least in most homes. For example, Cecil B. Hartley warned,
Use always the salt-spoon, sugar-tongs and butter knife; to use your own knife, spoon, or fingers evincing a shocking want of good-breeding.
Ouch! We have come a long way from that kind of formality. But still we want this table to look special. Christmas does not necessarily mean dinnerware with Christmas Trees or Santa Claus emblazoned on the plate. These days, we are concerned about both consumption and space; so we expect that dinnerware might serve for other days and holidays. But we all have a Christmas Plate or Dish set aside for holiday treats. Here are a few ideas for the new casual yet special settings for holiday gatherings . . .
The clean lines and clear color of Russel Wright stands alone . . . and works well in any setting. Here with a mid century table cloth in a bright floral of red and green – looks like Christmas Casual. Oh dear, I think that is how Wright referred to his designs for Iroquois!
Chartreuse not your thing? How about Cedar Green aptly named for a Christmas table with roses?
Or shades of blue? You can brighten things up with a mid century pitcher and a saucer, Blue Alpine . . . both for under five dollars!
More traditional, white swirl but mismatched brings charm and real life to the table. Flowers and garden sprigs add Holiday cheer!
A Holiday Plate for your Christmas Table is always welcome! We would love to be a part of your tradition. This is our give away . . a rare dated plate for cookies!
And the back stamp. . . if you collect plates, this is a good one – very limited! If not, this is a beautifully decorated plate for Christmas! Just leave a comment and your name will be entered. We will draw names on Sunday – we hope that you will have it for Christmas Day!
2. Cecil B. Hartley, The Gentlemen’s Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness