Christmas Eve Tablescape - A Night to Remember Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh

The table is now set for this year's

 Christmas Eve.

 

Christmas Eve at Purple Chocolat Home is formal.

Formal table, formal food, formal dress and it

has been that way since our family was created.

Three gifts are mentioned that were given to the Christ

child.

Gold - representing royalty

Frankincense - representing priesthood

Myrrh - representing death and ultimately resurrection

Our table is always set in gold on Christmas Eve.

The formality of the gold and the attire make it a special

and awe inspiring night.  A time to welcome

the King of Kings.

Even Mother Nature was preparing for Christmas too.

It certainly began to look a lot like Christmas here

this morning as

the back balcony got decked out in Christmas cheer.

Quite a way to prepare for Christmas, and with carols

ringing through the house it was fun setting the table

so it would be all ready for Christmas Eve.

The linens are the underpinning for the decor.  Muted gold sets

the mood.  Beautiful servers, heavily carved are laid out ready

to be used.  These were finds this year on ebay.  They said

they were sterling, but appear to be brass, either way, they

look lovely on the table.

Gold is layered upon gold, in muted and polished tones with

textural variety.

Arte Italica Vetro Gold stemware,

the large heavy goblets

were purchased 16 years ago while I was resigned

to bed during a pregnancy from Horchow catalogue.

Horchow still sells them and I just saw that they are

up to $85 each.  Even I was shocked at that price!

My daughter's comment was, "And

you let grandchildren use them?"  Well, maybe not

anymore.  The almost matching smaller goblets

were found years ago at TJ Maxx for significantly

less.  They will be good for the little ones.

Sheer muted gold napkins are layered and finished

off with a gold and crystal tassel napkin ring.

Beaded gold placemats layered with gold leaf ceramic chargers,

then topped by heavy rustic gold rimmed glass plates,

elegant scrolled gold edged china (also purchased while

bed ridden 16 years ago from Horchow - even if you can't

 get to a store, you can shop!),

then gold beaded clear glass salad plates

and finally bowls out of the same heavy rustic gold rimmed

glass.

The beautiful muted gold goblets are now a treasure

and a memory of when I needed to sacrifice to bring

a baby into the world.

Who knew they would increase so much in value?

Even the dining room chairs get dressed up for

the holidays.  An inexpensive mesh gold fabric is

simply tied in the back and a silk poinsettia

is tucked in.

Here you get a close up view.  This is very inexpensive and

yet really dresses up the chairs for the holidays.

The muted gold patterned tablecloth was a new

purchase last year from a furniture store in town.

Certainly a festive table all dressed in gold for everyone

to enjoy.

(My little six year old granddaughter is so taken with

decorating and tablescaping and the other day she

came running into the room and announced, "I am

a blogger!"   I am very flattered.  She has also

decided to call me "Christmas Queen" - of course

that melts my heart!)

The centerpiece is a gathering of gold and

glass items from around the house.

It is anchored by extremely wide gold scrolled ribbon.

Little cherub spreaders join in the fun in their beaded

container.

The whimsical touch of a gold and feather

tree makes the table not seem too serious.

It adds a contemporary touch.

A gold mercury glass finial sparkles.

And look who snuck in from the kitchen to

join in the celebration.

A little more sparkle is added with a jeweled ball.

A view from above by the chandelier.

Now we need food that fits the tablesetting.

Christmas Eve Menu

Steamed Artichokes with lemon butter

King Crab Legs

Served with melted butter & lemon and lime wedges

Herb Crusted Prime Rib

Rustic Sourdough loaves hand torn

Arugula Salad dressed with Lime Vinaigrette

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

Hand dipped Chocolates & Toffee

Almond Orange Punch

Even the butter warmers can get dressed up in a little gold.

Light the candles, turn on the carols, seat everyone

and bring out the food.

Christmas Eve has always held the most magic for me.

I had an aunt that never married.  My grandparents on

my father's side had passed away and my grandparents

on my mother's side lived half way across the nation.

This aunt set formal tables, sometimes up to four

in her two bedroom apartment and prepared the entire

Christmas Eve dinner.  When the girls became teenagers

they were asked to come and assist in preparing

the tables and food, one lucky niece at a time. 

It was such a priviledge to be asked to help and it

took all day.

Everyone arrived at 6:30 dressed in their new

church clothes. Appetizers and punch were served.

Then everyone was called to the table.  She usually

served about 30 to 35 people.  Each table was set

with china, goblets and silver.  Of course

the adult table had the best.  I had the opportunity to

sit at that table once after I was married.

We feasted on meats

and vegetables and breads.

Then after dinner, THE MEN retired to the kitchen to

do the dishes!  Of course my aunt carefully oversaw this

so that things didn't get broken.  We had the good sense

one year to videotape the entire event.  Aunt Ionia, our

Christmas Angel has since passed away,

but she continued this into her eighties.

Finally, we gathered around the tree to receive a present

from this loving aunt who acted as grandparent to 17 nieces

and nephews.  She never had more than a humble factory job

at Ray-O-Vac, working on the line, but she sacrificed for all

of us to create a most magical Christmas Eve.

Finally, trays of cookies and candy that she had been creating

for weeks came out before tired little children

 were driven home to bed, sometimes in a snow storm.

Such were the Christmas Eves of my childhood,

 magical and wonderful

 and my favorite part of Christmas.

This is the magic that I try to recreate on Christmas Eve for my

family, still dressing in our holiday best to show respect for the

awe of this holy night, and still receiving one gift to remember

my dear aunt.

I hoped you enjoyed peeking into one of our Christmas

traditions.  I certainly enjoyed sharing it with you.

I will be sharing my Christmas memories with

Boring to Better, All Things Merry and Brite

Tablescape Thursdays, Feathered Nest,

Show and Tell, Pink Saturday

Gold leaf chargers and rustic gold rimmed plates and bowls - Target years ago

Large gold goblets - Horchow

Small gold goblets - TJ Maxx

Gold Flatware - Best

Gold rimmed china - Horchow

Gold beaded placemats - (I don't remember)

Feather tree - TJ Maxx

Elf - gift

Finial and crystal ball - Tai Pan

Tablecloth - Four Chairs

Napkins and napkin rings - (I don't remember)

Carved brass serving pieces - ebay