The Mancos Friends of the Library will be holding a "Members-Only High Tea" on Friday, April 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Mancos Library. Members of the Friends are invited to enjoy complimentary tea, savories, scones and pastries and have first pick of books from the library's spring book sale.
Memberships will be available at the door for those who have not yet renewed for 2013. The executive committee is planning this High Tea to show appreciation to all members who pledge their support every year for the Mancos Library.
On Saturday, April 27, the spring book sale will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library will have many gently used books of all genres to choose from. All proceeds go to support the Mancos Library and its programs.
For the historical purist, the term "high tea" as it is used today is inaccurate. Historically, high tea was the evening meal eaten at the "high" dining room table. Low tea was in the late afternoon and was eaten at "low" parlor tables.
Before the introduction of tea in Britain, around 1660 with the return of Charles II, the English usually had two meals, breaking-the-fast and dinner. King Charles and his wife, the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza, (whose dowry, by the way, may be one of the largest and richest recorded in history) brought the habit and custom of drinking tea with them from the Netherlands where they had been living in exile. But it was not until the Victorian Period (1837-1901) that the formal afternoon tea was created.
According to legend, Anna Maria Stanhope, the Duchess of Bedford and one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, had "a sinking feeling" about 4 p.m. and ordered "tea and breadstuffs" to be brought to her rooms. Soon she began inviting close friends and thus began the "formal afternoon tea." Quickly, other social hostesses picked up the practice of afternoon tea - served at low tables in parlors.
Today, people use the term high tea, formal tea or afternoon tea in reference to its formality rather than the height of tables from which it is eaten. In addition, three types of afternoon tea developed:
.Cream Tea: tea, scones, jam and cream.
.Light Tea: tea, scones and sweets.
.Full Tea: tea, savories, scones, sweets, and dessert.
This traditional menu is still reflected in today's high tea - savories: finger sandwiches and hot appetizers; scones served with jam and Devonshire or clotted cream, and pastries: cakes, cookies, shortbread and sweets. This threefold menu led to the popularity of the three-tiered servers and, of course, the formal china and pottery tea sets with pots, cups, serving dishes, and small plates from which to eat.
Volunteers are needed to set up the book sale starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 25. Those who are more interested in food preparation can help with making finger sandwiches for the tea at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 26, at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church kitchen with Father Bob Seney. Friends of the Library also will need help running the book sale on Saturday. Various shifts are available. There will be sign-up sheets in the library, so stop by or call 533-7600.
The Mancos Friends are a fun group and love welcoming new volunteers. Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mancosfriends for their latest updates and activities.