A grand tradition: They host a sit-down for 50 (or more) each Christmas
Imagine a cross between “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the dinnerware department at Bloomingdale’s and you get an idea of the heart and holiday spirit behind Jamie and Polly Anderson’s annual Christmas Day dinner.
“It’s loud and it’s lively,” said family friend Sparky Jamison of the yuletide extravaganza that includes a formal sit-down dinner for 50 (give or take) and represents a gathering that has been growing for almost a decade.
It all began with a remodel of their historic 1928 Glendale home.
“We enlarged the kitchen and had a long living room,” Jamie Anderson recalled. Plenty of space and a generous supply of good china inspired the Andersons to host Christmas dinner and invite family and close friends, and the tradition snowballed.
Although not an event organizer or decorator by trade, Anderson said he enjoys the planning and preparation, which begin in November — before Thanksgiving.
“I try to have the basic Christmas decorations and the tree up over Thanksgiving weekend, so I can focus on making sure everything else is in order,” said Anderson, who designs new tabletop décor themes each year.
“We want to make people feel like they are at something really, really special.”
According to friends who haven’t missed a single ho-ho-ho-holiday dinner: mission accomplished.
“My girls love this dinner,” said Nancy Norris, a family friend. “It’s wonderful because we don’t have family in this state anymore. … We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“It’s a very generous gift that they give,” added Jamison, “we’re not just balancing plates on our laps … it’s beautifully done, but it’s also very warm and festive.”
Making the magic happen requires all elves and gear on deck.
The family pulls extra tables and chairs from storage and gets out the good china and crystal.
“Back when we got married, we got a lot of nice stuff for the wedding,” Anderson said.
Combined with her grandma’s Franciscan china, 25 place settings of Bernardaud Christmas-themed china (scored on sale) and an investment in Christofle wine and champagne glasses (sadly, no sale), the party is on and the tables are set.
“You gotta use the good stuff,” Anderson said, “if somebody breaks something, no big deal.” But he added, “We ask the kids not to clink glasses.”
The feast, served buffet-style from the kitchen, is a group effort, and everyone contributes.
Shared stories and children have both grown over the years, and although seating is not assigned, the “kids” table remains. Even if those kids have since graduated from college and now hold real jobs.
The table of young adults who have known each other from childhood relish the chance to reconnect. “There’s one young man who kind of convenes the group,” said Jamison, “and they’ll talk about something they were proud of in the last year and something that is an intention for the coming year — and after each person talks, they toast.”
For many, however, the best part comes after dessert has been cleared. “Jamie sits down at the piano and plays Christmas carols and we all sing,” Jamison said.
“That’s when the evening mellows out,” agreed Anderson, “we have lots of singers in the group … so there’s a lot of beautiful singing, harmonizing and solos.”
One year, the Christmas crew attempted caroling, but no one answered their door.
Humbuggery aside, Jamison said words that come to mind when asked to describe the evening are: family that you make, love and laughter. “There’s a lot of laughter — it’s about laughter and joy.”
For more musings on all things home design and lifestyle follow me on Twitter @ThsAmericanHome.
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