How Well do You Know Your Tea Party Etiquette?

Tea Parties are making a comeback. What was once a way of life in the 17^th Century in Britain, and went out of fashion as the modern way of life became more popular is resurfacing! Tea Parties can be used for something as simple as a get together with your girlfriends, a birthday party for your little princess, or a wonderful way to celebrate your bridesmaids at the Bridesmaids Luncheon. There are a plethora of menus and ideas out there, tips and ideas to make whatever the occasion as special as the person you are honoring.

However, if you want your tea party to be free of faux pas, there are several rules you must follow!

1. Pinkies UP!

That is correct my friends, it is indeed proper etiquette to have your little pinky crooked ever so daintily in the air while you sip your tea. The reason behind this little rule is that when tea cups were initially crafted in China in 620 AD, there were no handles on the cups. So while you held the cup with your pointer at 12 o'clock and your thumb at 6, your pinky was in the air for balance! Later on in England, the handle was introduced to the tea cup, and the tradition continued. And while you now grasped the cup with a finger and thumb to the front and back of the handle, the pinkie still stayed aloft in order to provide balance and prevent spills! Do not hold the cup with the bottom in the palm of your hand or loop all your fingers through the handle as you would a coffee mug!

2. Where on EARTH do you put your napkin??

There is never a good time for you to place your napkin on the seat of your chair. While it may seem appropriate in restaurants as you leave the table for whatever reason, this is not something you do at an afternoon tea. Your napkin is to be placed to the left of your place setting. Should your napkin have something on it, you could stain the chair, which is a much heftier (no pun intended) item to repair! Napkins may be washed, it is a lot harder to wash a chair seat.

Also when setting the table for tea, the napkin is folded with the open edge to the right and closed edge on the left. NO EXCEPTIONS!