Tea Party

"Would you like some more tea, sis?"
The tall young woman nodded, and Lizzie continued pouring while chattering about her own younger siblings.
"So Tybalt's gotten magic on the brain, he keeps asking me if he can talk to a shaman or the like. I said, no, he doesn't like talking to people, and then Tybalt asked what would happen if he stayed with shamans."
"What did you say then?" Purpure asked, helping herself to a slice chocolate cake.
"Honestly, I didn't have an answer to that, I hope he'll turn to another branch of magic if he really wants to study that. Like the sea heart or something."

This article discusses tea parties in the pirate and European contexts.

History

Tea parties started as a way to get snack time in an approved manner.
First brought into vogue by Duchess Anna of Bedford in 1840, but informally existed in some form a few years before then.
Although tea came from China, Chinese societies didn't have tea parties like the Europeans because tea was associated with common meal drinks.

Execution

The hostess would send out invitations at least a week before the tea party stating she would be home in the afternoon on a particular date. Most tea parties start around three o'clock in the afternoon.
Guests would arrive on that day and gather in the living room. The hostess would then serve snacks and drinks if it's a small (informal) tea. A formal tea party would require the help of several people, usually the hostess' children or servants if available.
While the serving takes place, guests are free to chatter among themselves, play simple parlor games, or show a recent craft they have practiced.
Tea parties usually end around six o'clock in the evening.

Components and tools

A typical menu for tea parties includes a lot of desserts, mostly baked ones. Cakes, scones, and sandwiches with various types of jam were frequent candidates.
Cold desserts were sometimes served on hot summer days, and usually made of fruit in pirate cultures.
A tea party isn't a party without the appropriate tea set. This was usually made of fine porcelain or stoneware depending on location. It consisted of a teapot, a cream jug, and sugar bowl with matching cups and saucers.

Participants

Usually young women will take part in tea parties. Sometimes their mothers or older female relatives and friends would join in.
In smaller households the hostess and her children, if any, would prepare food and drink beforehand and keep them at the right serving temperature.
Larger homes would have servants to prepare food and drink on the spot.

Observance

Tea parties are usually held in the afternoon.