Ancient Greeks and Romans used as napkins thin slices of bread, which were folded and placed on a table. In Asia, a bowl of water was served at the table for washing fingers after a meal. Instead of a tablecloth served, stripes of cloth, laid out on the edges of couches, on which reclining noble people. The same cloth people wiped their lips. A guest who came to the feast, brings with him a "tablecloth", that after the feast in her put the rest of the treats. Modern napkins, which became an integral part of any table, evolved from all the famous handkerchief, which was used during the meal, wiping sweat from the forehead. Approximately in the 14th century, covering tables, three tablecloths were used at once: one for the host, the second for the honorable guests, and the third was hung on the edge of the table, which served as a large common napkin. Later it became impolite to wipe his hands on the tablecloth, and it was customary to hang a large napkin on his left hand, in servant houses these serviettes were held by servants. This tradition was preserved until the 18th century. In the 16th century, napkins were already an essential attribute of feasts. For example, for tea, small elegant napkins were used, and for large meals - large in the form of a towel. In the 17th century, after mastering the "forks", the need to use large napkins by itself no longer existed. There are neat, not using napkins, was considered a real chic. In the 18th century, napkins began to be used in decorating a festive table. There were whole rules about how to properly use napkins. The right to deploy the napkin was given to the most respected guest, and if all guests were equal, then the first thing to do was due to the owner of the house. For lush collars, a napkin, tied around the neck, served as a protection, so as not to mess the gorgeous attire. Combining napkins with a tablecloth began at the end of the 18th century, and then whole sets began to appear in sales, which had 2 tablecloths: solemn and ordinary, and 12 napkins.
To date, you can rarely see elegantly folded cloth napkins in use. Almost at all holidays and banquets, the choice is given in favor of paper napkins. But what, with what incomparable mood of the holiday, will create elegant silk or linen napkins. Choosing napkins for a festive table, focus on the theme of celebration, for an informal dinner with friends or family, paper napkins of bright colors will perfectly suit; for formal receptions and celebrations, you will need strict and monochrome fabric napkins that match the tone for tablecloths and dishes, for example, classic white napkins are very elegant and versatile. Napkins made of linen or cotton fabric, perfectly keep the form, allowing them to make real compositions.
Napkins can not only be routinely folded and unfolded in appliances that are somewhat simple to use, add your style and personality to your table, creating a special mood. There are a lot of ways that you can use to make napkins for a holiday. For example, it's no secret what special significance women attach to the New Year's table. It would be desirable, that each detail and has echoed Christmas moods. A Christmas balls will look great decorative element on the New Year's table. A small Christmas tree ball can be gently put on a folded napkin, a bright ribbon tied to a ball, it can be tied, decorate a napkin or cutlery with a small spruce branch. There are hundreds of options for decorating the New Year's table, here you can create a Christmas fairy tale with silvery bells, bright beads and all the rest of the New Year's attributes. If you do not know how to make nice napkins for a holiday, then you can use the ring. The ring used in the design of napkins, can turn a simple napkin, into an elegant subject for a festive table setting, besides the use of a ring significantly saves time for complex folding of napkins. Such rings can be purchased in stores or made by yourself. To make a ring for napkins, it is not at all difficult, you can plant beads of various colors or large beads on a wire and wrap it with a napkin. The wire can be bent in the form of a spiral (for this it must be quite rigid), and insert a napkin into it, which will also look beautiful and original. Napkins can be not only in tone to the tablecloth, but also beautifully contrasted with it. The most common and ordinary form of folding is a triangle, an envelope, and four, but there are also more complex ways that you can master, for example, folding forms like "rocket", "fan", "sail", etc. The ability to beautifully make napkins to the festive table can be considered a real art. Here are some ways to fold the napkins. It is important, during folding, to touch the napkin with your fingers as little as possible. The way to add "fan", add the starched napkin "accordion", the depth of the warehouse is about two fingers. Garnishka folded in half, and a short distance from the bend secure ring of wire or straw. The form of folding the "tent", a napkin to bend from itself in the middle, turn the upper corners to the bottom, to the edge, to make a triangle. Place the corners on the plate. Very beautiful and original looks like a folding napkin, called "Peacock." To do this, 2 different in color and size napkins, fold in the form of an accordion and overlap one another. In the center, this napkin should be fixed and inserted into the glass. The shape of the folding "Candle" - a square cloth napkin, bend diagonally, and retreating 5 cm from the base, turning the corner, roll it inside.
Napkins - a small element of table layout, without which you can not do any holiday! A beautifully decorated table napkins, will set the real mood for the holiday!