Ringing in the New Year

When looking at creating a table for New Year’s Eve, it is important to remember what the holiday is all about: embracing the hope and excitement of a new year filled with opportunity. New Year’s Eve is night where we look to the future, but what is often forgotten is that it is also a night for remembering. The unofficial theme song for New Years celebrations, “Auld Lang Syne”, begins with a question: “should old times be forgotten?”, and my table is inspired by that question. Spoiler alert: the answer is no, old times should never be forgotten. This table is designed to honor the past and celebrate the future.

When it comes to honoring the past and remembering those old times, I wanted to feature one of my favorite things: my parent’s wedding china. The Royal Dalton Angelique china and Princess Blue Fostoria glassware has been a part of my family for almost 50 years, and I have always loved it. The delicate white plates with the blue flowers and silver band remind me of home and the holidays, and I love them. I loved how it immediately makes the table feel special because they represent times gone by.

I paired my mother’s china and glassware with new touches from my own collection to give the table a modern touch. Silver reindeer, glitzy blue and white Christmas balls, bundles of branches, and white poinsettia ornaments provide the table with just the right amount of winter wonderland for the season.

The final touches on the New Year’s Eve table were all selected to make sure guests had all of the essentials for the celebration. The table features chocolate truffles, and every table setting includes a mini bottle of prosecco and a bell to ring in 2025!

By Mary Lee Caldwell