With the arrival of the Christmas holidays, in addition to planning the Christmas Eve and Christmas menus, it's important to set the table perfectly; in fact, on this occasion, the mise en place becomes an important part of the festivities. For example: where do you put the napkin when setting the table? It's a mistake many people make, but you can't go wrong during the holidays!
We will show you the rules of etiquette for more formal occasions, but don't feel judged. The important thing is to always make your guests feel at home and prepare the food as you prefer. Here's a mini guide to setting your Christmas table perfectly.
1. Tablecloth and Napkin
To find out how to set the table for Christmas, the first thing is to choose the right tablecloth: it must be simple, well-stretched and of good quality. Regarding the color, you can opt for the classic red, green, or white, depending on the theme you've chosen for your holiday dinner or lunch. If the tablecloth is a solid color, you can also opt for a runner, a small, narrow, long tablecloth, like a sort of rectangular band, to be chosen with prints that recall Christmas.
The napkin should be placed to the left of the forks and never under the cutlery. The fabric should match the tablecloth and, for space reasons, you can also place it on the plate. It should be folded simply and elegantly, without frills.
2. Placemats and Plates
If you have one, the first thing to set on the table is the charger plate: it doesn't hold the food, but it serves to protect the tablecloth from stains and stays on until dessert. It should be placed about 3 centimeters from the edge of the table, and you can use your thumb as a guide.
A flat plate and a soup plate should then be placed in order, if you're serving soup, for example. According to etiquette, even pasta should be served on a flat plate. If the table is elegant, a bread plate is a must, placed at the top left, above the cutlery.
3. The Cutlery
Now let's move on to the cutlery: the knife goes on the right, with the blade facing the plate, followed by the spoon. The only fork that should go on the right is the oyster fork, if they're on your menu. Therefore, place the forks to the left of the plate. In general, cutlery should be arranged according to use, from the outside in. One is placed for each course and should be aligned well at the base. Fruit and dessert cutlery can be arranged on top of the plate: the fork should be placed with the handle facing left and the teaspoon with the handle facing right.
4. The Glasses
Finally, let's look at where to place the glasses, which should be positioned to the top right of the plates: the wine glass should be aligned with the tip of the knife, while the water glass should be placed to the left, towards the center. If you also want to add a glass for bubbles, place it behind the goblet. Regarding the materials, choose glass or crystal glasses.
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