The Living Room
Time for formal entertainment
History
Today's "living room", often only used for formal entertaining and special guests, has also been known as the parlor, or Front room. In the last few hundred years, as class structure changed and individuals came to possess more wealth, there was also a change in how homes were designed and used.
Over time, the simple home of an all purpose common room (kitchen, dining and living room) and bedrooms evolved to become a series of rooms. As people entertained more in their homes, there evolved the concept of having a more formal setting for entertaining guests. Such a setting enabled people to keep their private lives and quarters separate, yet still provide a space for gracious social functions.
Today, the living room concept continues to change. Some home still feature the main entryway right in the living room, others have a room to the side of major traffic patterns, and some have reduced this room to smaller proportions as a place for greeting and talking with special and non-familial or close guests.
For those with a room meant for formal entertaining, here are some tidbits about "proper" etiquette.
Formal Entertaining
Tips
How To...
When entertaining, it is important to remember that you want to create a memorable occasion. The goal is to extend a warm welcome to invited guests and to put them at ease in a pleasant social setting.
Plan ahead.
Have the right mix of people.
Serve enough food and appropriately sized and timed.
Formal entertaining is no longer commonplace on the American scene, partly because of the trend toward informality in living and partly because of cost and time.
High Tea
Conjuring images of silver tea pots, dainty sandwiches and lace doilies on every surface, the tradition of High Tea goes back many years to the late 1700's, as a point between the two meals of the day - Breakfast and Dinner. It was sort of a Working Man's meal.
What people tend to think of as the elegant High tea in America is actually Afternoon tea, or "low tea", in England. Technically, High Tea, or "meat tea", was served around six o'clock and was in reality a hearty evening mail.
Although the Formal Afternoon Tea is served between 2 PM and 6 PM in America, in Britain, the proper and only time is 4pm. High tea has also become less a working class meal and more of an event. In some cities, High Tea is a "power" business event.
When Garth and I serve American High Tea to friends and family, or luxuriously serve one for ourselves, we start with a black tea (often Earl Grey or English Breakfast) in an antique silver tea pot, with formal tea cups, served with a platter of tea sandwiches - egg salad, salmon, cucumber - and scones with Devonshire clotted cream. Sugar and milk accompany the spread on the side. A relaxed atmosphere and good conversation are preferred. It's hard to enjoy tea if you can't relax.
Tips
Serving Tips
Epicurean.com
Wikipedia definition
English Parlor
American High Tea
Cocktail Party
Ah, one of the more American traditions, the Cocktail party. Casual or formal, as an appetizer to dinner or as it's own event, the cocktail party can serve many functions. After the height of popularity in the 1950's, the cocktail party seems to be making a comeback in the 21st century.
With between 12 and 30 guests, finger foods and few chairs, guests are encouraged to mingle with everyone, move about and be social. After all, that is the primary reason of any party, and a cocktail party in particular is the place to meet others and talk.
Circulate (make the rounds) a little before you head to the bar or buffet table. Food and drink should not be the main goals.
Don't get drunk.
Crudite or raw vegetables - Picked up with your fingers, it's dipped into the accompanying sauce only once. Dipping into the sauce again once you have already take a bite (double dipping) is forbidden.
Wines - Reds are held by the bowl of the glass and whites by the stem.
Protocol Training
Art of the Cocktail Party
Cocktail 101
How To tips...
Trivia
A male version of the traditional debutante cotillion is called a beautillion.
American are never to bow or curtsy to royalty either in the States or abroad.
Etiquette
Straight Person's Guide to Gay Etiquette
Cocktail party Etiquette
Etiquette Link site
Emily Post 1922
Etiquette Hell
Etiquette Grrls