How to have a Red and Green Themed Christmas Dinner
Red and green are traditional colors for all aspects of Christmas from decorations to ornaments to gift wrap. Applying this color scheme to an elegant holiday dinner table will make it a meal to remember for months to come. Some innovative and creative methods of using these delightful hues include utilizing them in these ways:
Table linens
There are so many traditional and modern ways to tie these colors into the linens used when setting the table. Plaids, prints, stripes and florals can all be used in conjunction with your china and silver to create elegant and appealing table settings. Use a creative fold for the napkins such as a bishop's hat, candle fold or tent fold. Folding the napkin in half, twisting it and then stuffing it in a wine glass or coffee cup will create a casual fold with some height for extra impact.
The centerpiece
The table centerpiece can be as simple as a red and green candle in a hurricane or a fresh poinsettia. Or it can consist of an elaborate arrangement of red roses with leather leaf and white calla lilies. Red and green votive candles can provide extra lighting and more tabletop decor.
Serving dishes
Purchasing special serving dishes in different shades of red and green can add pops of color to your tabletop scheme. A variety of small, medium and large receptacles will give you a choice of dishes to choose from and, don't forget, the red can be re-used on Valentine's Day and the green on Thanksgiving.
Food
Cranberry sauce, Jello salad, cherry pie and a fresh green spinach salad will carry these colors even further. Other choices could include a green bean casserole, peas and mushrooms or a hot cranberry punch for guests upon arrival.
Attire
Encourage all of your guests to wear their red and green holiday favorites. The host and hostess could don festive aprons and the children wear red and green elf hats for extra holiday pizzazz. Ties, dresses, blouses, shirts and tops can all be purchased during the weeks ahead of the dinner in anticipation of this special event.
As illustrated, there are several applications of these festive colors during a holiday dinner that will make it extra special. Seek out items all year long that will add to your tabletop decor and surprise diners on your originality and creativity every season.
