Afternoon teas and “at home” days were two ways that women entertained a hundred years ago. Here’s what it said in a 1926 cookbook:
Afternoon tea is continually becoming more popular, and for good reason. From its very simplicity, it is no tax on the hostess, and is a most welcome and restful break in the “busy-ness” of a busy day. At an “At Home” day, which may be a set day and hour at intervals throughout several weeks, a hostess receives many of her friends at one time, and although she owes each guest a call in return, she has the pleasure and satisfaction of being “in” when her friends call.
The New Winston Cook Book of Guaranteed Recipes (1926)
I like this! When our inn was in full swing, we served afternoon tea and it was always a great welcome. Our friends knew they could drop by for a cup and maybe a little treat, and mingle with the guests. Delightful.
Sweet! Back in Texas, every afternoon we had tea in my office with several of my colleagues. It still have the teapot we used.
Oh, such good memories!
Indeed! I’ll bet your table at the Inn was lovely!
it was fun to dress up!
What a nice tradition! Afternoons in offices can get so long. Afternoon tea with colleagues would provide a wonderful break.
Afternoon tea at your inn sounds wonderful.
Thanks! I loved it because it was easy. Make some tea, have some cookies or crackers and cheese, all presented on pretty dishes, and everyone enjoyed the pause.
It doesn’t have to be complicated and the visitor always feels welcome.
How true- even just a simple cup of tea can make a visitor feel welcome.
While I have read all the romantic novels about “receiving at home” The first thing I think of for an at home tea is me, a cup of tea and a good book!
It’s lovely to relax with a good book and a cup of tea (well, I might actually have coffee).
In my Grandma’s day, the women in her community gathered for a hosted “Home Demonstration Club” which featured a brief program and then tea or coffee and refreshments. It was a rural version of afternoon tea.
I wish that there still were activities like the Home Demonstration Club events. It sounds like a wonderful community-building organization.
It would probably be hard to find very many folks “at home” these days.
Agree!
My husband and I often have afternoon tea.
I like it. Having afternoon tea sounds lovely.
When I was growing up I spent most summers in the UK and was exposed often to “afternoon tea” as it was called there (not to be confused with high tea which is an evening meal eaten between 5-7 pm). As a child I wasn’t much interested in it (too much sitting and also having to sit still!) but your post certainly brought back lots of pleasant memories of those summers. Thanks, Sheryl.
* I just realised that the 1926 article uses the same name. Not sure how that went over my head; I was likely thinking of high tea. Cheers.
It’s nice to hear that this post brought back some warm memories of summers in the UK when you were a child.
In 1926 both of my grandmother’s were in Detroit raising young families. Both households included children . My paternal grandmother had 7 children from 2 to 16. Her mother-in-law lived with her as did a highschool age niece who was there from Tennessee to attend high school. Pretty sure there was no tea time over there. We did drink tea there later. It was always on the dinner table and I learned to enjoy cambric tea there.
My maternal grandmother had three children, ages 4, 6 and 7. Her mother and two of her sisters were also living there. Her mother and one of the sister’s worked at Annis Furs. Pretty sure no fancy tea time there. I don’t remember tea was ever served there in later years either.
I also don’t think that my mother or either of my grandmothers had time have a tea time. They were very busy doing other things on the farms where they lived.
I loved reading this glimpse into history! There is something so charming about the concept of ‘At Home’ days.
The pace of life seemed just a little slower back then.