Welcome Traditions

We understand how the pineapple earned its swagger as the symbol of hospitality and welcome in colonial North America. New England sea captains who sailed among the Caribbean Islands dodging malaria, wicked storms, and the horrific hygiene of their randy crew were fortunate to return with their health and good judgment. But the luckiest of the lucky returned with an exotic bounty of spices, rum and fruit — including the deliciously alluring “princess of fruit”, a fresh pineapple. It is no wonder then that the captain would proudly display the pineapple, impaling it on his home’s fence post like a juicy badge of honor. It was an invitation for guests to stop, share food and drink, listen to embellished rum-powered tales, and celebrate a safe return. As the tradition grew, colonial innkeepers added the pineapple to their signs and advertisements; they even carved pineapple shapes into the bed posts.

In some quarters this fruity motif still makes its appearance in U.S. homes, from door mats to tablecloths, as a sign of welcome. But in this age of wisdom, enlightenment and Kardashian, isn’t there a more timely symbol of hospitality for today’s modern home? How do you make guests feel welcome? A poll of Century House staff yielded, as expected, some bright possibilities. Leading the list were music (dinner party favs include uber-chic Pink Martini, the kitschy-cool early bossa nova stylings of Marcos Valle, and the mellow-with-attitude Thievery Corporation); beverages (try pineapple-rum cocktails with your next chicken satay); and bedside comforts (books/magazines, a carafe/bottle of water, a candle, tissues, travel lotion and lip balm, and an extra blanket). Or how about a simple bouquet of locally grown flowers in a Danish-made vase? (See Holme Gaard vase above; note abstract pineapple shape.)

We would love to hear your ideas, modern lifestyle mavens. Let’s create some new traditions!