To start with… Dinner on the 24th, lunch on the 25th or both? This is a real fix for Christmas. One thing is certain and that is that the family gets together around a lovely laid table, full of appetizing food to enjoy each other’s company for this most important holiday. As tradition wants, some delicious dishes cannot miss and on the occasion it is necessary to lay the table in a perfect way.
I will therefore try to give you some hints on how to put up your table, both classic or trendy, but always to overtake your guests.
An elegant table has to be set with great care and also in a traditional way. On a quality fabric tablecloth, better if hand decorated, you can place plates and under plates surrounded by cutlery of the same number as the number of servings. On the right side the crystal glasses, one for the water and one for the wine, will accompany the whole meal. A touch of class? At the end you can add a flute for the toast and for the dessert.
Chiaramente la tovaglia è un l’elemento base di una perfetta mise en place, attorno ad essa infatti si costruisce tutta l’apparecchiatura. Per evitare distonie è meglio preferire tessili leggeri e neutri nei colori se l’intenzione è di decorare il banchetto con servizi opulenti dallo stile barocco, optare per cromatismi tessili o preziosi pizzi se l’apparecchiatura è prevista minimal. I tovaglioli? Delicatamente posizionati accanto al piatto raccolti con un anello in argento, legno intarsiato o un nastrino in velluto, mentre per i più creativi si possono realizzare composizioni come fossero origami.
The tablecloth is clearly the main and most important item for your table. It is better to choose light linen in neutral colours if you have decided to use heavy cutlery maybe in baroque style, and you can use laces if your table will be minimal style. The napkins? They will be placed on the right of the plate, stopped with a silver napkin holder or inlaid wood or even again, more simply a velvet ribbon. The more creative of you can prepare your napkins as if they were an origami.
Alcuni dettagli non possono mancare sulla tavola di Natale. Re assoluto del banchetto è sicuramente il centrotavola e anche in questo caso la scelta deve essere coerente: per gli amanti della tradizione sono adatte composizioni di fiori secchi, stagionali Stelle natalizie o ceste in bianca porcellana, mentre per chi vuole osare, sono perfetti alberelli in plastica o acciaio arricchiti da lustrini luccicanti o esemplari di cristalleria colorata. Il bon ton vuole si aggiungano i segnaposto accanto al piatto quando gli ospiti sono otto o più, e per questo, potete scegliere piccole candeline a tema natalizio o scatoline regalo, che a fine pasto si trasformano in simpatici e allegri cadeaux!
Some details cannot miss on your Christmas table. The most important is the centrepiece and even in this case you must be logical with your choice. For those who prefer the tradition better choose compositions with dry flowers, poinsettias or white porcelain baskets. Instead those of you that want to dare a little bit, why not use small plastic or steel trees that you can decorate with shimmering sequins or even coloured glassware.
Etiquette teaches us that placeholders must be used if the guests are eight or more and for this you can choose the traditional Christmas candles or little gift boxes which may contain little gifts for the guests at the end of the meal!
Each one of you can use your fantasy to create original tables, and if you choose with good taste, the marvellous effect is guaranteed!
I wish you all lovely holidays!!
