Me: I thought you would carry the bag on a special day
My auntie: Every single day is special to me
“Break out the fine china” is an idiom meaning to prepare for a special occasion or celebration, and it’s often used to evoke a sense of formality and luxury.
In literal meaning, it refers to using your best, most delicate, and often expensive dinnerware for special occasions, like a wedding or a celebratory dinner.
“Since it’s my birthday, let’s break out the fine china and have a fancy dinner.”
“We’re having company for dinner, so go ahead and break out the fine china.”
“We’re celebrating our anniversary, so we’ll break out the fine china and have a toast.”
Some people are hesitant to use their fine china because of the fear of breaking it or because they don’t have time for formal dining. Others are actively trying to use their fine china more often, to make memories with their families and to appreciate the beauty of these objects.
For most of human history, tableware was either of wood or some type of metal, or was something ‘found’ like shells and gourds. Not until Louis XIV in the 17th century did matched sets of dinnerware exist. The Sun King’s court at Versailles boasted long banquet tables with sets of royal porcelain decorated with emblems of Louis XIV’s lavish courtly lifestyle and cyphers of his reign. His court set the standard for French court style across Europe. The other standard for matched tableware was set in England in the 16th century with the taking of tea. The tea service ‘à la russe’ called for tableware worthy of the event of high tea, which included small plates of delicacies. Early English ceramists (potters) and silversmiths began to fashion matched sets. The wealthy would order porcelain sets from China, designed with the family cyphers and delivered from Canton by the great Dutch trading companies.
Two factors influence the public disdain for buying fine china today: one is the general decline in formal dining, and the other is the lack of time available to any of us now in our gustatory family lives, we just don’t eat together unhurriedly anymore.
Think about it, when is the last time you actually had dinner formally as a family on the dining table? If you have one that is. The common occurrence in many families today is to serve food from the kitchen sufurias and take it to your room to partake of it there, maybe as you watch series or talk to friends online. The parents are left in the sitting or dining room eating by themselves.
I was impressed by my aunt’s response on that particular day when we were having some lunch at the Nairobi CBD. She lived by the mantra that every single day of her life was special. I had sold her a handbag from my fashion collection and thought she would carry it to a special occasion such as a wedding, graduation or formal dinner but she had carried it to our casual lunch date where we partook some samosas and ginger masala tea.
I learnt a vital lesson from her that day. Tomorrow is not promised hence each day is very important; to be present, mindful, to laugh or smile, to celebrate, to break out the fine china. We sometimes postpone joy, putting off celebration until some perfect moment arrives. Dusting off the fine china isn’t just about plates, it’s a metaphor for living with intention. What if we lived like today was worthy of the best we have to offer? What if we didn’t wait for a reason to celebrate, but made celebration the reason itself? Life is not meant to save joy for later. That special moment my aunt and I were having in a warm afternoon in Nairobi CBD sharing tea and samosas was our fine china moment because hey, look, I remember it up to today yet it was more than a decade ago.
The fine china that’s been stashed away for years deserves to see the light of day. It’s time to move past the notion that these beautiful pieces are too precious for “ordinary” meals. Bring them out, celebrate with them, and revel in the beauty and nostalgia they provide. After all, what’s the point of having fine china if it’s never used? Every meal, whether a grand affair or a quiet evening at home, deserves a touch of elegance, and the fine china is the perfect way to create lasting memories.
Think of the fine china that never gets used, the one kept pristine in a box, protected but unloved. Isn’t that how some people treat their own passions, dreams, and joy? Safe, untouched, and waiting for “someday.” But fine china was made to be used, just like we were made to live, not merely exist. Letting it see the light, even at the risk of chips and cracks, is a declaration that beauty is meant to be experienced, not hoarded. Likewise, letting life flow fully through us, with its risks, messes, and brilliance, is how we honor the time we’re given.
So go ahead, set the table with the good plates, pour the drink, toast to nothing in particular. Because the truth is, today is the occasion. The urgency of celebration isn’t about ignoring hardship or pretending life is always easy. It’s about claiming joy in spite of everything. It’s a quiet rebellion against delay. A reminder that we don’t need permission to live fully. Life is happening now. Let’s not save the best for later. Let’s use the fine china today, and every other day.
Celebrating life daily is like lighting candles at breakfast, unexpected, but quietly revolutionary. It challenges the idea that joy must be earned or scheduled. Just as fine china adds a touch of essence to an otherwise ordinary table, small acts of celebration infuse the everyday with wonder. A handwritten note, dancing in the kitchen, or taking a moment to watch the sunset can feel extravagant in a world that worships productivity, but maybe extravagance is exactly what our spirits need to stay alive.