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Christmas eve table setting


35 Elegant Christmas Table Settings 2022

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Festive Napkins

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A little origami napkin-work can add an instant dose of holiday cheer (even if you left decorating the table until the last minute.)

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Pattern Play

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Offset all of the red and green with some classic black and white touches to give your table a whimsical yet cohesive style that's perfect for a holiday celebration.

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Moss Runner

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Bring a little bit of nature to the bare winter months with a colorful moss table runner.

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Christmas Crackers

Christmas Crackers

Now 33% Off

$20 at Williams Sonoma

Originally a British tradition, crackers are a fun way to kick off the dinner party and make for a lively table setting.

Estelle Colored Glass Colored Glasses

Estelle Colored Glass Colored Glasses

$75 at Nordstrom

These pastel-hued glasses offer a softer take on holiday decorating, we particularly love the the blue wine glasses for a Hanukkah dinner or a blue and silver-inspired Christmas table.

Henry Handwork Hand-Embroidered Holiday Napkins

Henry Handwork Hand-Embroidered Holiday Napkins

$45 at Food52

Delicately embroidered napkins are true modern heirlooms.

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Festive Napkin Rings

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Choosing a festive napkin ring is another way to dress up your table. Opt for a gold patterned design, like the napkin ring seen here, to add to the holiday color scheme.

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Light-Up Ski Chalet Ornaments

Light-Up Ski Chalet Ornaments

$36 at Food52

These clever Swiss ski chalets are ornaments, but we think they would make for a lovely centerpiece with dried florals and beeswax candles.

Citrus Garland

Citrus Garland

$98 at Food52

Eucalyptus and citrus are unexpected but oh so cheerful addition to the Christmas table. Bonus: The room will smell amazing.

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Juliska Berry & Thread Stackable Glass Trees, Set of 5

Juliska Berry & Thread Stackable Glass Trees, Set of 5

$350 at Bloomingdale's

Stackable glass trees create a gorgeous glittering forest on your table. Plus, the heights can be adjusted to avoid having to peer around tall centerpieces.

Red and Gold

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Red and green isn't the only Christmas color pairing—don't underestimate the elegant couple that is red and gold.

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Belle Noel Table Runner

Belle Noel Table Runner

$815 at Bergdorf Goodman

A poinsettia runner layered over a crisp white tablecloth is a traditional look that never fails, especially with this elevated design.

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Dear Annabelle Superlatives Place Cards

Dear Annabelle Superlatives Place Cards

$60 at dearannabelle.com

Create new connections around the table with Dear Annabelle's superlative place cards, which can double as a conversation ice-breaker.

12 Days of Christmas Cocktail Napkins

12 Days of Christmas Cocktail Napkins

$150 at Bergdorf Goodman

Don't underestimate the power of a great holiday cocktail. It has all the promise of a dinner party but is much more relaxed and fun. Still pay attention to the details, like these 12 day of Christmas napkins that help guests keep track of whose drink is whose and look good doing it.

Personal Gift

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Whether it's Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day brunch, no guest will turn down a present upon their welcome.

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Tory Burch Spongeware Dinner Plate

Tory Burch Spongeware Dinner Plate

$78 at Tory Burch

Mix unexpected textures, like Tory Burch's spongeware into Christmas decor to keep things fresh.

Polish Your Good Silver

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There's never been a better time to bring out any and all silver. Make sure you polish your pieces ahead of time, and then put them to good use at Christmas dinner.

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Juliska Country Estate Winter Frolic

Juliska Country Estate Winter Frolic

Now 60% Off

$63 at Bloomingdale's

Indulge in your cottagecore fantasy with classic red and white plates that recall the snowy holidays of yesteryear.

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Natural Touches

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Adding natural elements like branches and pine cones alongside shiny white ornaments brings an elegant winter forest touch to Christmas dinner.

SHOP NOW Mini Pine Cones, $9.99 for 100

MadeinMexicoFolkArt Hand-embroidered Mexican Ornaments

MadeinMexicoFolkArt Hand-embroidered Mexican Ornaments

$34 at Etsy

The Mexican embroidery technique of Otomi is a vibrant way to celebrate Christmas. Etsy is a great resource for Otomi tree skirts, stockings, and other decor, but we like the idea of adding a few colorful stars to a whimsical winter table.

Lauren Hubbard

Writer

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

56 Christmas Table Decorating Ideas for Holiday Cheer

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Decorating your Christmas table with care and attention is a simple way to get into the holiday spirit and to show your loved ones and guests a little extra love. There are endless ways to dress a holiday table, whether you’re a minimalist or like to go all out. Whether you are hosting a holiday brunch, tea, or family dinner, or just want to dress up the table with a festive installation that can stay up throughout the season, check out this assortment of Christmas table decorating ideas in a range of styles to add a little magic and cheer to your end of year celebrations.

The 37 Best Christmas Decorations of 2022

traditional decorations and customs. Tip

In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the bright holiday of the birth of the baby Jesus is celebrated on January 7th. This important holiday is associated with many traditions. On Christmas Eve, the custom of caroling is still preserved, as well as the custom of preparing a rich Christmas treat. The AnyDayLife collection of tips will tell you how the Christmas table is traditionally decorated and what customs are associated with it.

An important Orthodox Christmas tradition is fasting. Until January 7, Christmas Fast is valid, so the festive table on the evening of January 6 should be lenten and, according to tradition, consist of twelve dishes. In the center of the table, it is customary to put kutya - the main Christmas treat.

Table decoration and setting

The most important color for decorating and setting the Christmas table should be white . This color has long been associated with the symbol of divine light. In addition, you can use red symbolizing joy and gold considered a traditional religious color. Cover the table with a white tablecloth, also choose white cloth napkins.

One of the main Christmas symbols on the festive table is hay. In the old days , hay was placed under a snow-white towel (earlier, a towel was used instead of a tablecloth), and straw was placed under the table. Hay and straw symbolize the barn in which the baby Jesus was born. Previously, a bunch of hay was also placed on the tablecloth between dishes, but nowadays you can use various straw figurines . It can also be a straw wreath, which should be placed horizontally on the table, and a candle placed in the center. Such a composition can be decorated with fir branches, as well as cones, rowan branches, etc. You can make a Christmas composition in a vase by placing hay in a deep or flat decorative dish and decorating the composition with Christmas balls, beads, toys and any other material. If you can’t find real hay or straw, you can use artificial material that resembles natural in structure.

In addition to straw or hay, it is customary to put some grain under the tablecloth, symbolizing abundance. It is also customary to place garlic from the four corners of the table . In the old days, it was believed that it would help drive away evil spirits from the family and home.

Christmas table decorations must include candles . They symbolize the light of the star under which the baby Jesus was born, and also mean the victory of light over darkness. In addition, the soft light from many candles will make the festive atmosphere in the family more cozy and warm. If you have some free time, you can make holiday candles with your own hands or decorate large decoupage candles using beautiful napkins with Christmas motifs.

The Christmas table can be decorated with themed decorations with angels . You can, for example, make angels with your own hands from simple improvised materials or use ready-made jewelry. These can be, for example, candlesticks, napkin rings or dishes with images or figurines of angels.

Customs associated with the Christmas table

According to an old custom, it is customary to invite an even number of guests at Christmas . All dishes, except for soup, are served cold so that the hostess does not get up from the table. Christmas dishes should not be washed down with water, only with uzvar. According to tradition, both adults and children of should try all twelve dishes of , at least a piece. But it is also impossible to eat the entire festive dinner to the last crumb so that the house does not remain empty.

There is also a certain sequence in which it is customary to eat certain dishes. It is worth noting that it is not customary to drink alcohol on January 6, they are served only on January 7. Kutya , which symbolizes the connection of all generations of the family and the continuity of life, is tasted first from the Lenten Christmas table. Then snacks are eaten (salads, pickles, fish aspic, etc.), and after that soup is served. Dessert is eaten at the end of dinner. At the end of the festive dinner, kutya and some other dishes are left on the table . This is due to the belief that the souls of deceased relatives also gather on Christmas Eve.

According to ancient customs, unmarried girls and single guys should not sit in the corners at the Christmas table, so as not to leave the bases of the couple. If you take a spoon in your hands, you can’t put it on the table. Until the meal is over, no one should get up from the table or leave the house, so as not to let in evil spirits.


Table setting for Christmas - Photo. Christmas table decoration

For many of us, the winter holidays are, first of all, the comfort of our home, the soft light of lights, the Christmas tree decorated with carefully stored toys, fluffy snow, a fabulous atmosphere, great mood, mouth-watering aromas and obscenely tasty family dinners. Among all the winter holidays, Christmas occupies a special place - the warmest and most family holiday that gathers all our relatives and friends around the table. How does Christmas start? Of course, from dinner in a close family circle, when the house is beautifully decorated, candles are lit on the table, the most Christmas colors and colors are found everywhere - red, green, yellow, gold, silver and white. The festive table is decorated with fir branches, old Christmas decorations, napkin angels, colorful candles and bells.

In terms of beauty and solemnity, Christmas is in no way inferior to the New Year. For a long time, the festive table has played an important role in this. Many still try to adhere to established traditions in decorating and serving, but most of them today are still conditional, for example, earlier, in memory of the Bethlehem manger, it was supposed to put hay under the tablecloth, but it is unlikely that modern housewives remain true to such a tradition. Today, the table setting for Christmas, as before, consists of symbols, but at the same time it looks elegant, beautiful, cozy and festive. You can talk about this for as long as you like, but how can you still decorate the Christmas table? We have compiled a selection of interesting table setting options for Christmas so that you get inspired, get ideas and serve the most beautiful and festive tables!

Recipes for Christmas


Salad Christmas Wreath


Chicken with potatoes "Festive"


CEC "Light Christmas"


Festive pie


Christmas meat

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One of the most beautiful and effective options is to use a tablecloth in Christmas colors. Firstly, there will be no problems with dishes, and you can choose a set to match the color of the tablecloth, and secondly, with such a tablecloth, the table itself already looks elegant and bright. But even such a tablecloth should be decorated, for example, by picking up the corners with a satin ribbon and decorating with Christmas balls. Candles in colored Christmas candlesticks decorated with sparkles will not be superfluous either. Also, you can not do without cutlery polished to a shine, bright napkins in the color of the tablecloth and crystal champagne glasses. And the real decoration of the table will be the central composition of fir branches, Christmas decorations or fresh flowers.

One of the easiest ways to set the table for Christmas, which does not require special devices and inventions - a white tablecloth, napkins and greens. Solemn white tablecloth and napkins, for sure, if not everyone, then many. There should be no problems with transparent dishes either, fir branches with cones can be found at Christmas markets, which open near every supermarket from December 15th. In this case, a spruce wreath or a hyacinth planted in a pot and germinated in advance can become the central composition. As a rule, for Christmas, winter is already in full swing, everyone has time to miss the bright juicy spring greenery, and spruce branches or young hyacinth can become a warm reminder of summer and cheer up every guest at your table. But no matter how hard we try to inspire thoughts about spring, there is still winter outside the window, which can also be recalled in the table setting for Christmas, for example, with the help of napkin decor. To decorate napkins, you can use snowflakes cut from corrugated silver paper or foil.

Christmas table setting can be made in the same style using one ornament. Ordinary napkins can give a festive and solemn look to your table. Choose napkins with original, not necessarily Christmas or New Year ornaments and create your own unique, one and only table setting. Start with candles. For serving, wide white candles will be a win-win option, but if a different color fits the chosen ornament, then use candles of other shades. Carefully separate the top layer with the pattern from the napkins, tear off the unnecessary edges and attach the napkin to the candle. Heat the inside of a tablespoon over a fire and carefully place it on the ornament attached to the candle. A hot spoon will melt the wax, which will soak the paper and stick the ornament to the candle, if necessary, repeat the procedure. You can wrap the cutlery with the same napkin or put it under the glasses.

Christmas table decoration can be not only fir branches, artificial snow and Christmas decorations, but also such warm and cozy homemade cakes! Bake fragrant muffins, arrange them in miniature flower pots and garnish with a sprig of rosemary, so similar to fir branches. Such a "flower pot" will certainly not go unnoticed by your guests! As the main plate, on which small plates with portioned pieces of a particular dish will be served, use wicker coasters for hot dishes. Paint transparent glasses with acrylic paint, draw spruce branches, mistletoe or Christmas decorations on them. Also, for each guest, you can put a Christmas card with the warmest and most festive wishes on the plate.

Christmas is a winter holiday, so fir branches will become the main decoration of the table one way or another. Table setting for Christmas involves some kind of central composition, collect it from fir branches, decorate with tinsel and multi-colored glass balls, you can also decorate napkins with spruce branches, and therefore every plate. To do this, collect small branches in a bunch and tie them with a satin ribbon or braid, decorate with a bell, cones, a bright bow and gold or silver snowflakes cut out of wrapping paper. Fold the napkins into a rectangle and place them on each plate, place greeting cards on the napkins, and the resulting bouquets on them.

To make the holiday truly warm, filled with the aromas of comfort and warmth, use not only bright colors and shiny tinsel, but also homemade cakes, cinnamon sticks, anise stars and fragrant cloves in your serving. Warm biscuits, a glass of compote or mulled wine, decorated with a cinnamon stick, will please each of your guests with a pleasant and unexpected gift, anise, mixed with nuts and frozen berries. Metal bells or bells and candles decorated with Christmas symbols will not be superfluous either. Use candles in the form of Christmas trees or cones, decorated with sparkles, stases or just Christmas patterns.

A bright red or burgundy tablecloth will look very solemn and festive when setting the table for Christmas. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to use spruce decor, it is enough to put a bouquet of red roses in the center, put a bouquet of artificial green leaves under each plate, and put festive bows on the plates themselves. Bows can be made from napkins. To do this, prepare napkins that match the color of the tablecloth, and rings for them. Fold the napkin in half lengthwise, wrap the ends towards the center, put on the ring, straighten the edges and gently turn over. You will have an elegant festive table in Christmas red and green colors!

Despite the abundance of all kinds of decorations, a spruce wreath is still an indispensable attribute of Christmas. Europeans place them above the front door, on walls and windows, as well as on the festive table. Why don't we adopt this tradition and decorate the Christmas table with a spruce wreath? Festive aromas will immediately begin to hover around the table, and bright green tones will please the eye. The wreath can be decorated with miniature Christmas decorations, flowers, cinnamon sticks, a wreath decorated with hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds will look original. If the spruce theme on your table becomes dominant, then it makes sense to decorate the napkins with a spruce branch or a Christmas tree cut out of colored cardboard. Glasses mounted on plates and decorated with an inverted bouquet of their spruce branches will look original. Collect the branches in a bouquet, tie with a satin ribbon and tie a bow, decorate the bottom of the “bouquet” with a small Christmas tree ball.

Looking at all the presented photos of successful Christmas table setting, some housewives may have doubts, because all kinds of plates, napkins, cutlery and decorations are, of course, beautiful, but where is the food! As a rule, in Russia the table is served not with all kinds of decorations, but with plates of food and drinks. However, to make the table look really beautiful and festive, it is better to try to do without salads and bottles of champagne in the serving. Such serving involves inviting relatives or guests to an “empty” table. In fact, of course, not empty, but served with winter decorations, while the hostess delivers portioned salads, then soup, hot dishes and dessert. The bottom plate always remains on the table, and plates with treats are already placed on it. Also, with such a serving, no bottles and packages of juice are acceptable, in extreme cases, you can put decanters on the table, however, even drinks are best served in portions. Such serving and serving will undoubtedly cause much more trouble for the hostess, but, as you know, beauty requires sacrifice.

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