While the cornucopia dates back to Greek Mythology, its graceful shape and overflowing harvest is now most commonly associated with Thanksgiving. A cornucopia looks especially festive on the Thanksgiving table, but takes up more room than most Thanksgiving dinner platters will allow – especially with Aunt Grace’s enormous Tropicana Orange Jello mold. You can get a similar horn-of-plenty essence with a simple yet elegant napkin fold. Fill your napkin cornucopia with fresh flowers or greens; a small gift; candy, nuts, and fruits; or anything else that strikes your fancy and suits your guests. It’s a lovely way to finish your holiday table setting.

Folding Your Napkin

Most square napkins will fold nicely into the cornucopia shape. It’s a good idea to start with a stack of freshly pressed napkins. If you are using a napkin with a directional print, like the our Conversational Napkin shown above, it’s important to begin folding so your motif is not upside-down when you finish. Try a practice fold to confirm before you press the napkins.

Step 1: Fold napkin nearly in half diagonally as shown below. Don’t go quite all the way to the right edge so you don’t have an overlap showing when you are finished.

Step 2: Bring the lower right corner up to the point.

Step 3: Bring the lower left corner up to the point.

Step 4: Fold the right side across about a third.

Step 5: Fold the left side across as shown to form the cornucopia.

Finish Your Cornucopia Napkin

The fold forms a little pocket where you can insert your own harvest; whether it’s a fresh flowers or greens, candy, nuts or a small gift. Tie with a pretty cord or ribbon to finish.