Your CartThe Charms of Christmas Tea are many! Read on to see how you can host a beautiful but easy holiday tea!
Today I’m sharing another little bit of inspiration from my article that was published in the holiday edition of Victorian Homes Magazine. I changed the wording somewhat, since talking to YOU is different than what an editor wants to see in print.
Christmas is the most favorite holiday of all, a celebration of beloved traditions, cherished family decorations and holiday meals that evoke memories of magical winter days spent with family and friends.
Our house is at its best during the holidays, bedecked with garlands of fresh-cut evergreens, boughs of holly dotted with bright red berries, all to greet holiday visitors with a warm welcome. Don’t you love this time of year?
I’m trying hard to focus on the reason for this season, and not get hectic and crazy, are you? This is a great time to get together with people you love.
With the house dressed in celebratory finery, it’s a great time to extend an invitation to neighbors, friends and family. Since your home is probably looking its best {just close the door to rooms where the elves are making a huge mess with piles of wrapping paper, gifts and deliveries etc.} visitors can always expect a most warm welcome in your home during the holidays.
This is the perfect time to gather your friends, and reconnect with old friends you love but haven’t seen in ages. We are all so busy these days, but I vowed a few years ago that I would MAKE TIME to see my friends, and really spend time with them
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A holiday tea time party is both elegant and easy to host. It is pretty, but is way less pressure than other types of parties. And here’s a secret: You don’t have to actually MAKE everything! I am sharing our favorite White Chocolate Raspberry Scones recipe from Delicious Table in my next post, if you made those, you could buy the rest. Really. {Secret Sneak Peek below!}
This thinking that we have to do everything ourselves is silly. It actually kept me from entertaining for a while, until I grew older wizened up. There are so many delicious things to buy, I usually make one thing, and buy the rest! That is the beauty of a tea, you can make it as easy or as complicated as you want! If you don’t have the time to make everything, you don’t have to. See that gorgeous cake, below? From our local Trader Joe’s. I just took it out of the box, and sifted some powdered sugar on it to dress it up a little. Easy. Delicious. Beautiful!
Not quite a meal, not quite as casual as appetizers and drinks, a tea gives you a great excuse to bring out the silver, iron a pretty antique or vintage table cloth, and try out some of those holiday cookie recipes you want to make but are afraid that if you do, you will eat them all yourself!
Few gatherings are more convivial than one centered around a beautiful tea table. Outfit your table in its finest, using an heirloom antique cutwork tablecloth, gleaming silver and your prettiest porcelain cups. Just in case you need to “holiday up” your silver, I use Goddard’s, the best silver care polish. Read HOW TO CLEAN & POLISH YOUR HEIRLOOM SILVER HERE.
A centerpiece can be flowers, of course, but a bowl filled with antique blown glass ornaments will also add flourish and sparkle.
A few candles, the lights from your Christmas tree, and you are well on your way to a beautiful, memorable party! Candlelight bathes your room in a welcoming glow, and makes everything, and everyone, look better! {I used to put a candle next to my kitchen sink and told my girls it made doing dishes special. They didn’t really fall for it.}
I’m adding some exceptional heirloom tea antiques this week to the shop. But honestly, you can have a lovely tea party with mis-matched cups, and a few cookies or a cake on a plate. It’s really more about spending time together, sipping hot delicious tea, and sharing bits and pieces of your life together.
Next time, look for Lisa’s delicious White Chocolate Raspberry Scones! You can make these now, freeze them, and bake at tea time, or on Christmas Day!
WHAT DO YOU SERVE FOR TEA AT YOUR HOUSE?
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I am learning more and more about traditional tea and am loving all of the different ideas. It does feel special, especially when it’s not expected. Christmas is always busy, busy but I think I will surprise my family this year and quietly set up a little table somewhere in the house then “invite” them over. 🙂 Merry Christmas, Lidy.
Today is my birthday and thanks to the beautiful pictures of tea party goodies and lovely pieces of silver and China to serve in, I feel like I have celebrated royally. What fun.
Happy Birthday, Carole! I hope your day is spent celebrating wonderful YOU! xo
I am a new follower of French Garden House but enjoying each post and becoming more inspired with every read. Also, enjoying the lovely pictures. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much Cassandra! Merry Christmas, to you, too! xo
Absolutely lovely, I’ve officially put the Segreto Vignettes book on my Christmas wish list. When will we see a book by you my dear???
What a beautiful tea service, and the raspberry scones – yum! I’ll be watching for those, for sure.
I served scones, pecan tassies, and cake along with very small cucumber sandwiches. And of course tea, several varieties. The tablecloth was perfect as I made sure it had been starched and ironed beautifully. The flower arrangements were roses in China teapots. I used my antique tea service to pour, had beautiful music playing softly in the background and lighted candles in barley twist candle holders. My friends stayed much longer than I planned because it was such a lovely time. That was some time ago and they still talk about it. Whatever we do it’s always about how we make others feel. My personal feeling about the items served is to make it myself always asking God in my kitchen as I go about mixing, baking, serving, and in that way it’s about doing for other as HE would have us do. Such JOY comes when including Him in all we do.
It sounds perfectly beautiful, and a true blessing for all who came to your tea, Alice. I sometimes also make everything myself, but I think we don’t HAVE to pass up on a wonderful time like this because some of us may not have the time to make everything. But if you have the time, enjoy it so, then how special!
I love an afternoon tea party! For me it is the epitome of elegant entertaining, when you use your finest tablecloth and vintage china. Home made scones, strawberry jam and lots of whipped cream. A delectable chocolate cake and copious cups of hot tea!
I absolutely agree, I love afternoon tea, of course the children here in France all have gouter, very civilised, when friends come over, they all sit down together, they eat their cake or scones or whatever I make them like young adults, it is very much a part of their day, every day! and as I love baking cakes it is great to have plenty of eager mouths who love to eat them! xx
Susan, I miss those days! Our girls always had tea in the afternoon after school too. They still like to come over here to have tea on Sundays, and for Christmas they love a good, elaborate tea.
Love picturing you over there, in your cozy kitchen, with your children having tea, especially at this time of year!
I have tea in the afternoon and at night. Cookies are mostly the treat accompanying the tea. Sometimes a piece of cake is substituted. I really enjoyed this post. Your tea set is beautiful.
Marion
What a beautiful article! I am inspired to bring out my mother’s silver tea set and the antique chocolate pot and cups and invite my friends for a special girls treat during this busy season. Thank you for the inspiration!
Brenda, oh, I hope you DO! It is such a special time to gather friends for the season!
I never serve tea with guests, but I love to see photos of those who do! Those scones, I can almost taste. So elegant, everything here!
Brenda
I only drink tea,no coffee for me. I love your photos,everything is so lovely.
Marilyn
Thank you for sharing this post. Your things are gorgeous. I do drink tea at least twice a day.
Joan
This is the 27th year my girlfriend and I have had a Christmas Tea. It is usually held on the first Sunday in December. It started as a cookie exchange with our daughters who are now in their 30’s. We have friends from their school days, neighbors and so he from our church. In San Antonio, sometimes it is very warm and I crank down the air conditioning so we can have a fire. This past Sunday was cold and rainy so we had no need for the AC!!
At our annual Christmas Tea we serve egg salad, cucumber and cream cheese and sun dried tomato tea sandwiches, Also, chicken salad in phyllo, an onion soufflé, and Brie in pastry with raspberry chipotle sauce is on our table. The silver tea service includes a special coffee blend and Constant Comment Tea. We also serve a raspberry fruit punch. We bake six or more different cookies. We usually have forty ladies who attend. This past Sunday was our 27th year to host our Tea.
Caryn, that sounds absolutely divine! I can only imagine what fun it is, and what special memories all of you hold in your hearts of this tea!
My friends always require I service my egg salad tea sandwiches and chicken salad on mini croissants from trader joes.
i’d say “charm” is the key word, as your Tea is so charming. The china is exquisite. Thanks for the beautiful “tea party” … and the tips. I must say that I love the story about the candle!…
I love a 3 tier trays, each sections serves a different menu, such as finger sandwiches, fruits and pastries… It looks like party when it’s all together.
Your lovely ideas on setting the table for tea made me go straight to the kitchen to prepare a cup for myself. As I drank it, I smiled because it made me remember a game my sister and I played when we were very young teens. About once a month we decided to go on a “glamor campaign.” Everything that day was to be done in a glamorous way … meaning sophisticated … to our young minds. First we dolled ourselves up with manicures and makeup, then we prepared dainty goodies and tea, serving them on the good china, with lace-edged napkins on a silver tray. We practiced our best manners and enjoyed pretending we were grown-up ladies, usually movie stars. Life today gets so busy, but maybe it’s time for some of that glamor again!
Shelley, what a sweet, sweet memory! Love this, my friend. Merry Christmas to you and your family! xo Lidy
I love the silver tea and coffee pots. I wish more people today
appreciated silver serving pieces. They instantly make your table more elegant.