WHAT ARE CHARGERS FOR?

Many of my guests have been asking, "What are chargers for?  What is their history?"  There are many different styles and colors, some very extravagant, some too beautiful to cover up.  I like to use a clear plate when wanting to show off what's beneath it.  Here is what I've found about chargers.  I'm even more interested knowing there are references to the Bible in the use of a charger.

Charger (table setting)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Place setting with red charger.

Charger plates or service plates are larger decorative plates used to dress up dinner tables at parties, weddings, and other special events. While the charger plates have been around since the 19th century, they returned to popularity in the late `90s. Since food is not actually served on chargers, they are often called underplates or chop plates.^[1] The word "charger" originated around 1275 - 1325 from the Middle English "chargeour". Formerly, a charger signified either a large platter or a large, shallow dish for liquids.^[2]