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Definition of a Tea Party: "In Anglo-American culture, a tea party is typically a formal, ritualized gathering (traditionally of women) for afternoon tea, although men may be invited to participate."
Definition of a Garden Party: A garden party is a social gathering with food provided, in the open in a park or a garden.
Put the two together and you have the ever so popular Garden Tea Party!
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Easily Managed Foods for a Garden Tea Party:
A Garden Tea Party is known for serving garden salads because a garden tea not only celebrates tea but it celebrates the vegetables that grow in the garden. Many times fresh garden salads of all types are served with wonderful homemade salad dressings. Accompanied with that are easily managed foods like thin sandwiches called Tea Sandwiches, made with fresh garden products such as cucumber sandwiches or tomato sandwiches. Other favoites are desserts made with fruits from the garden or a very cold fruit salad. Plain pound cake is popular because it goes so well with all types of fruit. Edible flowers are very common at garden tea parties. The colorful petals go well with salads and on top of desserts. Edible flowers blend right in with a garden theme tea party. Cold or hot tea can be served for drinks.
Parting Gifts
Small parting gifts are traditional at Garden Tea Parties. Everything from a box of fresh tea leaves to little starter plants for the garden. Guest favorites are small herb plants such as mint which goes perfectly in garden salads and tea both.
Prestigious Event
Unlike a picnic or barbecue, which are informal, a garden party can be a prestigious event. For example, invitations to parties of the British Sovereign, held at Buckingham Palace Gardens, are a great honour, and are very rare except for those in traditionally invited high offices.
Many games are traditionally played at garden parties and garden tea parties.
In Champs Elysees, Paris, there is an annual Garden Party on 14 July on the occasion of Bastille Day.
Formal Tea Parties:
"Formal tea parties are often characterized by the use of prestige utensils, such as bone china or silver." "The table, whatever its size or cost, is made to look its prettiest, with cloth napkins and matching cups and plates." "In addition to tea, larger parties may provide punch, or in cold weather, hot chocolate."
"High tea (also known as meat tea) is an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5pm and 6pm in the evening. It would be eaten as a substitute for both afternoon tea and the evening meal.
See also:
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Dinner has always been associated with special occasions, with special moments, with persons who matter the most... Invite your friend, sweetheart, family or loved ones for dinner with these classy and warm Dinner Invitation ecards.
