I do believe I've seen that in one or two houses - but only many years ago. Most people can't afford that much space in their homes, after all. (As mentioned below, one can use wall space to show off china.)

And I do think that there are typically plenty of clues as to where guests ARE expected to eat, so I don't quite get why they're sitting down at a table with no food nearby.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...=.024a3b247200



Q: Dear Miss Manners: I have a shared living room/dining space, and a separate breakfast table off my kitchen. However, my formal dining table is always set, but rarely used.

I was always taught to never seat yourselves at a formally set table if the meal is not being served there. Every Christmas, I elaborately decorate this table with fancy china, glassware and fragile decorations, only to have guests pull out a chair and put down their libations, keys, etc.

Is it proper for guests to sit there?


A: Are you under the impression that it is proper to set your table and then sneer at your guests for not realizing that you dont consider them important enough to sit there? What on earth is this display supposed to be for?

Now why they feel it necessary to put their keys on the table is another question. Miss Manners supposes that your inhospitable attitude is sufficiently apparent that they want to be able to make a quick getaway. Merry Christmas.



Some comments:


cococo
12/18/2016 7:42 AM EST
I never heard of keeping your dining room table set all the time.


Mr.Belvedere
12/18/2016 3:51 PM EST
Miss Manners mentioned this a few years ago. Apparently there's a subset of trashy bourgeoisie into it. She said if you were at someone's house and saw this, you should say, "Oh, I see you're expecting company, so I'll leave you to it."

Apparently there are still some people doing this still thing, and it was annoying MM enough to mention it, and its silliness, once again.


buffyj63
12/18/2016 7:47 AM EST
I've seen it done; some people like to display items instead of keeping them stored away. One of my previous bosses had a collection of glass she kept on the dining room table all the time; they ate their regular meals in the breakfast room.

Rhoanna
12/18/2016 10:27 AM EST
Aren't china cabinets for displaying your dishes (or at least some of them)? It also keeps them protected when not in use, unlike a table setting.



(end)



Lenona.