Shall We Bring Back 19th Century Etiquette?

[MineralMan]

29. Well, my wife and I are decidedly local indigenous people.

So are our friends. Our dinners, which move from home to home several times during the year, do not include anyone who is not a local indigenous person. Not much ceremony is involved.

However, in another time and place, when I was much more solvent financially, I hosted a formal Christmas holiday dinner for 24 people. It was a 19th Century British style dinner, based on a real menu from such a dinner. It was done by subscription, so the cost was divided among all of us, but I planned it and made it happen.

The idea was to actually experience the entire thing as if we were doing it then. It was held in the dining room of an old mansion which had become an event venue. We hired a staff to prepare and serve the meal, and we were all dressed to match the period. The servers were all local actors, and costumes were rented. I did a little Victorian etiquette guide for the thing, and showed the servers how it should be served in the style of that time. They were very well paid. We even had a butler to oversee the entire service and pour the wine. The dinner was prepared by a local chef, and included a boar's head and seven courses.

All of the people who participated really got into the spirit and character of the thing, and a great time was had by everyone. From beginning to end, the event lasted over six hours, from sherry before dinner service began to brandy, coffee and cigars following the meal. As a bit of historical theater, it was a huge success. The company was delightful. As a meal, it was extraordinary. As an expense, it was frightful.