For after-dinner ease, you might want to go with colorful paper plates ... $7 for an impressive count of 75 napkins, so maybe stock up on a few packs — Thanksgiving can get messy.

Every other day of the year, I revel in a table thoughtfully set with treasured china, linen napkins, and etched glassware. But on Thanksgiving, I’ve come to cherish those paper plates—a sign ...