Here we are is Christmas, with our load of expectations of all kinds, religious, social, the joy of being together, exchanging gifts, preparing special food dedicated to the holidays.
And also with the inevitable stress of preparations, deadlines, the final rush of gifts.
To all this is added the fear of contagions, the boom of the new Omicron variant that worries and makes travel and family reunions very uncertain.
Let's try to put everything together in a mini-guide on preparations with
the table set and taken care of
at the center
which is the heart of the holidays
,
the place of excellence where we meet to live and share special moments.
The table: decide on the equipment and make sure you have a tidy tablecloth and napkins and enough plates and cutlery for all the guests. Don't worry about having a full service,
the mix and match at the table is trendy!
Turning to the menu,
it is advisable to choose one that allows the hosts to enjoy conviviality. No, therefore, to dishes that are too complicated or that need to be cooked instantly, such as soufflé and risotto. In addition to a detailed shopping list to complete the purchases, if you receive at home it is essential to create a timetable to optimize times: while the broth is cooking we can stuff the roast, while the roast is in the oven we can prepare the canapes and so on. Is the to do list too long? Don't panic: to facilitate the organization it is enough to
divide the tasks
, involving - why not? - relatives and friends. The important thing is that everyone knows exactly what to do, otherwise chaos is created!
The menu varies according to the regions and families, traditions that follow one another year after year and which are in some ways identical: pasta with tuna on Christmas Eve, as well as the reinforcement salad, the cappelletti in broth at Christmas or the stracciatella egg, in every house there is a story. However, unlike in the past, it is necessary to have a different
sensitivity with guests: allergies, dietary regimes, before thinking about a dish we have to ask ourselves questions or prepare alternatives that are there
and also numerous because the market now offers a lot and it is also challenging to find dishes that they please everyone. The art of equipment The equipment for holidays must be richer than the daily one, just to underline the special moment.
The party tablecloth is important:
the most elegant - says the bon ton expert Elisa Motterle who curated a special Christmas for Sodastream - are those of candida fiandra but for Christmas day the colored ones are also perfect, for example with Scottish patterns, or embroidered with traditional motifs like pine wreaths and swags. Decorative elements, such as placemats, bread plates, add a special touch to the table and are perfect on a feast day. Even the napkin (which goes to the left or on the plate) lends itself to being a decoration: just tie it with a ribbon to which you can add
a sprig with berries,
a small pine cone or a biscuit. A perfect activity to involve children in the preparations as well.
The centerpiece
deserves a separate paragraph
: whether it's already packaged or homemade, it shouldn't obstruct the view and hinder conversation. To choose the right one, the ideal would be to follow the shape of the table: therefore round centerpieces for round or square tables, elongated centerpieces for oval or rectangular tables. Over the years we have also learned
the beauty of simplicity,
unless you have gigantic spaces, a beautiful table is not necessarily like a Flemish painting the important thing is the care, special, and unusual details that are 'poor' such as: sprigs of pine, holly leaves and pine cones combined with rough fabrics, such as burlap and linen or more challenging and gilded.
The colors are important:
red, green,
now and white this trendy year, everything makes Christmas
The true spirit of the holidays
During the holidays we must not lose sight of the most authentic spirit of these days, marked by sharing, love and respect, including that for the environment! Enjoying Christmas is also trying not to overload expectations and emotions. There is a lot of talk about avoiding consumerism and we try to do it for real: a few gifts but thought out, food in doses not for the canteen, decorations not like in Buckingam Palace if we live in 70 square meters, cozy clothes that is comfortable which does not mean shapeless jumpsuits. There are those who are caught in this period by the so-called
holyday blues
for many reasons, because we feel alone, because the holidays imply a mood of happiness even if we are not.
Bringing everything back to simplicity can restore the true spirit of the holidays.
We avoid food waste, we give up the first fruits that come from afar (and have a strong carbon footprint) to prefer local, seasonal foods, possibly from small producers.
On the table, then, we respect the environment by avoiding disposable plastic as well as for a sustainable Christmas we also avoid PVC cards, ribbons and bows in favor of more eco-friendly materials, such as old newspaper or wrapping paper. , to be embellished with brightly colored fabric ribbons or pine twigs.
