Making your Christmas Dinner Red and Green
Christmas dinners are normally festive, with friends and family coming together around for a meal. Of course there will be socializing, music, snacks and other entertainment, but it is called Christmas dinner because dinner is the main component of the evening.
If you are hosting the Christmas dinner this year, you may want to use a theme to be distinctive. The easiest theme to add to your celebration is colour and at Christmas, what makes more sense than red and green? There are several ways to add flair to your dining table, both with decorations and, more creatively, with the food itself.
Starting with the table decor: plates can be purchased in green or red to add some colour to your layout, but if you would rather not buy an extra set of dishes for one holiday, place green or red cloth napkins directly on top of the plates. You can use one colour or alternate colours for a pleasing and cheery pattern. Wrap your cutlery in the napkins for an added touch of sophistication.
Glasses and cups can be placed on small linen squares or coasters in red and green. You can also wrap green or red ribbon around the stems of wine glasses, or attach sprigs of msitletoe with ribbon to wine glasses.
Hot dishes for food should be set on red and green pot holders or cloth napkins. Choose up to three vases or decorative bowls with poinsettias. Any more than three will look cluttered, but two is the best choice because it creates a balanced look. Poinsettias are the perfect Christmas plant because of their vibrant green leaves and bright red flowers. If there is space, you can add small dishes of potpourri dyed in red and green as well.
These table decorations work best on a simple, crisp white tablecloth. Alternately, you can purchase a red or green tablecloth, and select dishes in the opposite colour only, instead of alternating them. For example, green napkins, vases, and serving dishes on a bright red table cloth will look festive and put together. This is a bolder choice, and works best in large and bright rooms.
For the more creative and artsy hosts and hostesses out there, try experimenting with food presentation to create a red and green themed Christmas dinner. Lay out all your dishes and food selections. Gather the ones that are naturally green or red, such as salad, green beans, peas, cranberry jelly, beets etc. If you need more red and green foods don't hesitate to add them. Small bowls of maraschino cherries will look splendid, even if no one eats them.
If you are really courageous, try adding green food colouring to your mashed potatoes for a fun effect, or serving up red berries in green jello. Serve your red and green foods in white bowls to showcase their holiday colours. Try to balance each side of the table with a similar number of each colour. Serve other foods in green and red serving bowls, and balance those on either side of the table as well.
When selecting your table wear, there are several options for pattern and design. You can go for red and green in solid colours with a white table cloth. This creates a cohesive and bold look for your table. Patterned dishes create a modern and fun look, but be careful. Too many patterns, or even too many elements with the same pattern, just look messy and disorganized. If choosing patterned dinnerware, it is best to balance it with some plain elements in a solid colour. Another simple trick is to choose solid colours for your dinnerware, and red and green patterns for your napkins.
It is fun and relatively simple to create a red and green themed Christmas dinner. If you are investing in new decorations or table though, make sure it is good quality and not too trendy. You don't want to be stuck buying a new set next year because this set is dated. Choose appealing pieces that are well made and relatively simple, and you will do well.
