I think afternoon tea is something of a relic left over from a more elegant and well-mannered age. At home (here in Virginia, or "back home" in Ireland) tea could range from a few McVitties Biscuits and some Berry's Tea poured from a big brown tea pot into thick mugs, to dragging out the silver, making loads of finger sandwiches and sipping Earl Gray from grannies china. No mater what the degree of formality, however, our tiny household comes to a complete stop every afternoon at "tea time".