Most of us like to entertain in our homes at least once during the holiday season. For a change from the holiday cocktail party, and to introduce friends to tea, consider hosting a holiday tea party. Here are a few suggestions for holiday teas, but with a little thought you can probably come up with some lovely ideas of your own.

Plan a tea party centered around angels. In all religious traditions, angels are seen as the messengers of God. Those who value the quiet gentleness of a tea celebration will most likely appreciate the peace angels bring to a home.

To enhance the setting of your angelic tea, display any and all angels you may have as part of your holiday decorations. You can always add a few more from discount stores. Music is an important part of any tea. Classical or Celtic Christmas music would set the angelic tone you desire for this tea.

Everyone has a talent whether they share it with the world or keep it to themselves. Share your talent and discover those of friends by hosting a holiday tea salon. Ask each guest to come prepared to sing a song, play a piece on a musical instrument, read a poem, tell a story, perform a dance, or recite a favorite literary passage.

French tea is a bit different as it consists of only tea and dessert. Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Provencal midnight tea. In Provence, it is the custom at midnight on Christmas Eve to celebrate the occasion with 13 desserts, the number representing Christ and his 12 disciples.

Most tea foods can be prepared in advance and are often served at room temperature making party preparations a bit easier. While your tea party would be fine without alcohol, you may want to set up a tea bar of brandies and liqueurs in a corner where guests can add a splash of their favorite spirit to their teacup.

It is not practical to brew enough pots of tea for a large group if you want to enjoy your own party. Instead, set out a selection of teabags in a pretty basket or silver bowl. Beside it keep a large insulated carafe or pump thermos with hot water.

Another solution is to prepare a tea concentrate in advance. Use four teabags (adjust for loose tea) per one cup of boiling water. Steep for two minutes then strain and allow the liquid to cool to room temperature. To prepare the tea for serving, add one–half cup of hot water to one–eighth cup of concentrate (i.e., a four–to–one ratio for larger amounts).

I would love to hear your ideas for holiday teas. Sharing the spirit of tea with others is in keeping with the spirit of the Christmas season.

The holiest of all holidays are those

kept by ourselves in silence and apart,

the secret anniversaries of the heart.

— Henry Wadsworth

Longfellow, “Holidays”

lindas@sc.rr.com