How to Host a Gothic High Tea at Home

A Victorian-inspired winter ritual for dark romantics on snowbound afternoons

By: The Lace Ledger Staff

January invites a slow, sacred relationship with time.

The month encourages warmth, ritual and intention, whether gathered indoors or framed by falling snow.

The ceremony of high tea offers a refined way to mark the season, whether your alone with a book or seeking sanctuary from the weather with friends.

High tea, as we know it today, emerged a tradition in the United Kingdom during the Victorian era as both a snack between lunch and dinner and an opportunity to entertain. The ritual balanced elegance with practicality, serving structured tiers of delicious treats alongside conversation, quality time and ambiance.

In gothic households, the ritual of high tea invites opportunity to brew up a witchy concoction, enjoy storied heirlooms or beloved antiques, curate a themed menu or wear en elegant outfit; the possibilities are endless.