Welcome to The Hostess Diaries!
Welcome to my parlor. Photo by Cheers Babe
Host or Hostess (noun):-
a person who receives or entertains guests socially, commercially, or officially
Hospitable (adjective):-
the generous and cordial reception of guests
Hospitality (noun):-
i. hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition
ii. the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc
To be described as a great host is one of the highest compliments one could ever hope to receive in one’s life. Yet, to be hosted by a great host is surely one of life’s greatest pleasures.
The relationship between host and guest is always a reciprocal one – one can only be a host through the act of receiving a guest, and vice versa. Every culture has its own rules about how a host should behave when welcoming a guest, and conversely how a guest should behave when received by a host. When these norms of behavior are formalized and written down, they become known as etiquette.
When we think of the word etiquette, we probably associate it with the Age of Enlightenment and the elaborate code of conduct created by the upper classes of Europe during the eighteenth century as a way to separate themselves from what they viewed as the uneducated and uncouth lower class. During the twentieth century, we came to think of etiquette more in terms of basic courtesy and manners, the kind espoused by the infamous Emily Post in her 1920s guide to desirable and pragmatic conduct at home, work, and major life events.
However, the aim of The Hostess Diaries is not to talk about how one should or ought to behave in polite company or which fork to use with fish; rather it is a place to explore and celebrate the many ways we make each other feel welcome in our homes. I want to share the inspiring lives and works of some of the great hostesses I have uncovered during over a decade of research on the topic (many of whom have been long since forgotten). I also want to take a fresh perspective on the meaning of hospitality in the context of the business of hosting today - where I will be reviewing drinking and dining experiences, not based on the food and drink, but rather on how they made me feel as a guest. And of course, I wouldn’t be a good host if I didn’t also offer you a glass of something refreshing in the process.
As poet and twentieth century thinker, Maya Angelou, is often quoted as saying – “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. While she may or may not have been the originator of this phrase, the sentiment is one that I believe must never be forgotten.
See you in the parlor!