We’ve all heard the term “Southern Hospitality” but what does that really mean? In my mind, I envision a home-cooked meal sitting around a dining room table. There is genuine conversation and no one is in a hurry to meet their demanding schedule. Traditionally, the South has been known for showing hospitality, but sometimes I wonder if it’s a forgotten art.
It seems that no one has dinner parties anymore. Everyone is on the go, and restaurants have taken the place of inviting guests in for a home-cooked meal. It takes time to practice the fine art of hospitality. It is an intentional act of kindness. Often, it’s around the table breaking bread together where the seeds of relationships are watered and the roots begin to grow. It’s where people can freely be themselves without fear of rejection. I’m seeing more and more in my life that friendships take time. Yet, time is not often an abundant resource in today’s microwaveable and disposable society.
As I researched the meaning of “hospitality”, I found that it means extending a welcome to travelers or offering a home away from home. The word is derived from the Latin word “hospes” meaning visitor or stranger. You might guess that the root word for “hospitality” is “hospital” because, at the heart of hospitality, the host is caring for her guests.
I’m happy to report that hospitality is alive and well in a certain home in Atlanta, Georgia. My daughter and a few of her friends recently invited a group of ten people to their home in the well-established Garden Hills community in Buckhead. The charming home where they live was built in 1937 in the heart of Atlanta. It is full of character and I can only imagine the history the walls of this house have seen over the past 85 or so years, and what they would say if walls could talk! 85 years of true Southern living…. 85 years of laughter, tears, wondering, thinking, coming and going, and just plain old living life!
Cavin and I were among the ten invited guests for a fall dinner party. Upon arrival, we found the house full of happy chatter as guests were enjoying appetizers in the parlor. I have never lived in a home that has a parlor! That in itself exudes the idea of Southern hospitality.
The young hostesses were completing their cooking in the kitchen and the dining room table was beautifully adorned with candles and fresh fall floral arrangements. The table was set with china that had once been my very own mother’s prized possession. The Desert Rose china had been a popular pattern for brides in the 1960s and it had found its way to this Southern home. It set the stage for this elegant Southern meal. It was so refreshing to see this old china gain new life in its new home!
As we were seated at the table, it was obvious that a lot of love had been poured into the preparation of each course. We were served a four-course meal complete with soup, salad, a main course, and dessert. The creamy butternut squash soup was a great start to the meal. The warmth of the soup took the chill off of the cool evening. Next came the harvest salad with a mixture of greens, nuts, apple wedges, cranberries, and feta cheese. The main course was pork slow-cooked for hours in a dutch oven. It was so tender and tasty. The roasted potatoes and popover rolls complemented the pork. Apple crisp a la mode completed the meal but did not end the party.
There was a lot of laughter that night. There was time to tell long stories and discuss topics that truly matter. There was time to get to know new friends and enjoy the company of those for whom you would give your life. There was joy in seeing my daughter share the gift of hospitality by caring for those in her home. It was an honor to see these young women honoring their guests, and I don’t take for granted the honor of being an invited guest.
As I reflected on this night, I realized that Southern hospitality doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of effort and it’s my hope that it doesn’t go away in the hustle and bustle of life. I will try to be more intentional in inviting people into my own home. That night as I experienced the kindness shown to the guests, I realized that Southern hospitality truly matters, and more than that… relationships matter.
Sampling the South…don’t skip out on Southern hospitality!