42 Items for Your Holiday Table

 

Well, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are just around the corner!  Holiday party planning is in full swing and what better list can I create for you this week than 42 Items for Your Holiday Table?

Then, you can print this off and use it as a checklist when setting up for your holiday parties.  That way, in your rush to stay on schedule and get everything done, you won’t forget something important, like putting salt and pepper on the table!

I just finished setting my holiday table.  With help.  In my family, it’s quite an elaborate affair over several days with many moving parts (finding the decorations, unpacking the decorations, setting up the long table, then decorating and finally, setting up the place settings).  The centerpiece is a massive undertaking of Christmas decoration overload!  Much like a Christmas tree.  You can get a sneak peek by reading my post from last year, Samantha’s Christmas Table plus the photos in this post!  Below are photos of my niece, Samantha (Tiffany’s sister), setting this year’s table.

 

 

These photos were taken a few days ago.  As you can see in the background of the photo above, no snow in sight!  Palms trees and other tropical plants abound plus 80+ degree weather.  Except for yesterday and today.  It hailed yesterday and we had a massive rainstorm!  Imagine that – hail!   I ran to get my camera to take a picture, but it was over before I could get my camera!  We had thunder and lightning, too!  Today, blue skies and sunshine but about 50 degrees.  So, there you have it – the current weather report from Southern California!

 

 

 

The tradition of elaborate table decorations all started about 40 years ago when my father retired from the Air Force and we moved to Southern California.  It was the first time in more than 20 years that my mother, Jo, and her twin sister, Geri, lived in the same state and region.  They decided, together, that they would alternate hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas at their respective houses.  So, one year my mother would do Thanksgiving and my aunt, Geri, would do Christmas and then the next year my aunt would do Thanksgiving and my mother, Christmas.  And so on.

 

Anyway, as the years progressed, their holiday table decorations became more and more elaborate.  A competition of sorts; although an unspoken, unacknowledged, “friendly” competition.  All of us daughters and granddaughters would help in one way or another, thus concluding in our young, impressionable minds that a holiday table isn’t a holiday table unless it is packed full of holiday stuff!

 

 

And, my Christmas tables are even more elaborate because when we first moved into our new home after the 2007 wildfire (see:  Any Way the Wind Blows), we moved in 12 days before Christmas.  Our new one-story home had a 14-foot ceiling in one room and I had to have a 12-foot Christmas tree {grin}!  And, I had to have enough ornaments to fill that 12-foot tree, so my mother bought me lots and lots of beautiful, gorgeous ornaments.  Tons.

 

 

 

To make a really long story short (or shorter), after that first Christmas in our new home, with everyone now gone back to their own homes, Charlie and I realized that we couldn’t take the 12-foot tree down!  Furniture delivery guys came to our rescue and you can read about that misadventure here:  Much of Muchness!  We gave the 12-foot tree away and now have a 7 1/2 foot tree.

And tons and tons of ornaments.  So, the ornaments go on our Christmas table!

 

 

Anyway, here’s the list of 42 Items for Your Holiday Table (the FREE printable is included at the end of this post):

1. Table pad protector
2. Tablecloth
3. Table runner
4. Centerpiece
5. Placemats
6. Napkins
7. Napkin rings
8. Candle holders
9. Candles
10. Place card holders and place cards
11. Party favors
12. Chargers
13. Dinner plates
14. Salad plates
15. Bread plates
16. Soup/pasta bowls
17. Fruit bowls
18. Dessert plates
19. Water glass
20. Cup and saucer or mug
21. Wine glasses
22. Children’s glasses
23. Dinner fork
24. Salad fork
25. Steak knife
26. Dinner knife
27. Soup spoon
28. Teaspoon
29. Dessert spoon or fork
30. Specialty cutlery (i.e., seafood fork, if needed)
31. Serving bowls
32. Serving platters
33. Serving spoons, forks, tongs, etc.
34. Salt and pepper shakers
35. Water pitcher
36. Coffee pot and/or tea pot
37. Cream and sugar bowls
38. Bread basket
39. Butter dish
40. Butter knife
41. Gravy boat and ladle
42. Condiment dishes and servers

Did I forgot anything?  If so, let me know in the comments sections and I’ll add it to this list!

Here’s your FREE printable 42 Items for Your Holiday Table checklist:  TS4T Checklist – 42 Items for Your Holiday Table.

Tootles,

 

Related Posts:

(other holiday checklists)

• 42 Deals to Look for on Black Friday
• 42 Thanksgiving Items for Your Home
• 42 People to Add to Your Christmas Gift List
• 42 Things to do with The Elf On The Shelf