Tea party (social gathering)

This article describes tea parties, gatherings for afternoon tea. For alternate uses, see tea party (disambiguation).

A tea party is a formal, ritualised gathering (usually of ladies) for afternoon tea.

It is characterized by use of the best tea service for presenting tea (and often coffee as well), accompanied by thin sandwiches, sliced cake, little cakes and cookies served on the best china. In warm climates, cool drinks may be offered as well; in cold climates, hot pastries may be added to the menu.

The tea party was a feature of great houses in the Victorian and Edwardian ages in the United Kingdom and the Gilded Age in the United States. It is somewhat passé today, but still survives in the rituals of some communities, (for example, the debutante tea in the U.S.). Teas are still given for visiting celebrities and honoured guests, or when a hostess desires to make a statement for a special occasion.

In general, during afternoon tea, servants stay outside of the room until asked to take dishes or bring new ones. Writing in 1922, Emily Post asserted that servants were never to enter the room unless rung for, or to bring in fresh water and dishes or to remove used dishes. A tea party is the only afternoon tea at which servants may remain. It is permissible for a formal tea to be given without help at all, as nothing has to be passed. In this case the hostess sets everything out and brings in boiling water after the guests are settled. At a tea party, as opposed to afternoon tea, ladies are required to wear "good" afternoon dresses or suits with perhaps hats and gloves (gloves are removed; in winter they are left with the coat) and gentlemen wear business suits.