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The Holidays: Setting a Festive Table

The holiday season is the time to go all out with decorations, especially on the dining table. Make it a feast for the eyes, and every meal from family lunches to fancy dinners will be a special occasion.

Choose a Theme

It's easy if you start with one big idea:

Try a Color: Traditional red and green, modern all white, rich gold and silver, or a favorite shade of blue
Celebrate your Heritage: Include decorations that honor places where your parents, grandparents or ancestors lived, whether it's another country or another region of the United States. If you're from the islands, think about seashells and palm leaves; if your grandparents were born in a Scandinavian country, why not reindeer and snowmen? Or use fake snow and pine boughs as they do in some parts of Africa.
Turn to Nature: Go natural with dried flowers, evergreens, nuts and berries and miniature bird houses.

Tie-In All the Details

These easy decorating ideas make your table a special event:

Tablecloths and Napkins: White works with all kinds of decorations, but using a color is fun, too. For example, a yellow or orange cloth and napkins are perfect for those pretty straw decorations and painted wood animals from Mexico. Red is wonderful for little statues of Santa Claus, elves and angels, and green is great for plaid ribbons and silvery stars.
Centerpieces: Keep it low so people can see each other and talk easily. For candles, short, thick pillars marching down the center of the table will add magic to the simplest meal. Place bunches of holly in glass vases and sprinkle snowflakes cut from white paper and plastic crystals all around. Single flowers floating in shallow dishes of water are beautiful and an inexpensive way to make your holiday table unique.
Plates and Glasses: Any style will do and they don't have to match. Mix different shapes and colors for a festive look or jazz up plain white plates with jewel-toned glassware. Sturdy paper plates in elegant gold or a bright pattern and plastic stemware are best for a big crowd of friends and neighbors.
Favors: Tie a bow around each napkin, but don't stop there. Slip a sprig of greenery, small tree ornament or foil-wrapped chocolate underneath. For your younger guests, red and green lollipops, a gingerbread man or a roll of their favorite stickers will put them in a happy festive mood.

Combine these suggestions with your imagination and good cheer, and you'll create a festive holiday table for family and friends.

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