A Night In Bethlehem Dinner

Welcome to a Night in Bethlehem

at

Purple Chocolat Home.

A few years ago we realized that we wanted

to celebrate the birth of Christ on

an extra night - separate from presents

and Santa, and make it be a celebration

of the true meaning of Christmas.

The house is prepared by moving the furniture

out, and placing additional rugs on the

floor as we are going to sit on the rugs

with tables elevated on #10 cans.

The family all receives an invitation and

and when they arrive we greet them in

costume and invite them to put on

a costume if they want.

This year I used burlap tablecloths and copper chargers

with clear plates and goblets (from Dollar Tree).

Electric candles, greenery and pomegranates

decorated the low tables, along with a few

small sheep.

The food is simple fare with a variety of

cheeses, meats, breads and crackers, fruit

and nuts.

My SIL brought me this adorable 

Christmas tree shaped butter.

The creamed honey is from my son's bees,

which he started this past year.

Between every two plates a scroll was placed.

We sat down first and they were invited to

unwrap their scrolls.  On the scrolls were the

words to Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

We then turned up the music over the loudspeakers

and sang with the Tabernacle Choir - of course,

they carried us.  It was really fun and the first time

we have done that, but I think it will become a new

family tradition.

Then it was time to eat.  The kids are used to us

making charcuterie and cheese boards so they

enjoy it.

Here is a view from the balcony overlooking

everyone.

This was the night we served the Chocolate Board.

We thought it went well with the meat and cheese boards.

Now it was time for the Nativity.

I had purchased a new backdrop this year.

You can find it here.  We taped it to the

window.  The manger can be found here,

and the stable was made by a friend years

ago.  All of the sheep were found on Amazon.

The pictures turned out pretty well, but don't

be fooled by their angelic faces, the pictures

don't show the chaos!

Baby was 10 months old and wasn't sure about

all of this fun!  There were tears because we

have 3 boys and 9 girls and everyone wants

to be Mary, of course!

(Mary #1)

This is more like what was really happening.

(Mary #2)

(Mary #3)

The baby Jesus went through quite a lot!!

But in the end, all who wanted to be Mary

got a chance, and looking at the pictures

afterward, you kind of forget how crazy

it was, how many tears, how many kids kept

changing costumes, and how many times the

baby tried to get out of all of this chaos!!!!

I have to admit that the dinner was the 

highlight.

We are busy preparing for Christmas, but I

think I wrapped my last gift yesterday, if I 

don't go and buy something else!  Phew!!!

I hope the Spirit of Christmas fills your heart

and life at this beautiful time of year.

Thanks for visiting.

I will be posting with 

Tablescapes Thursday

Dishing It and Digging It