STUFFED bears and children aren't the traditional demographic for a fancy tea party ¿ however, it is every year at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

Starting on Monday, the hotel is set to host its second annual Teddy Bear Tea that lasts until December 21.

A children's etiquette class has been added.

The children's Christmas tea, served daily in the lobby between 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m., will have a variety of full finger foods including peanut butter and jelly white-bread pinwheels, roasted turkey sandwiches with cranberry mayonnaise on whole-wheat triangles, fresh-fruit skewers with yogurt dipper, Christmas-tree cookies, gingerbread men with candy canes, Smarties cupcakes, chocolate-milk eggnog or choice of soda.

Children, under the age of 12, are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear or other new stuffed animal to the Christmas tea, which in turn will be donated to various Bermuda charities for families in need.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Santa Claus will be on hand to read to the children in a special storytelling session starting at 3.30 p.m.

"We create a magical event for the children," said Rehanna Palumbo, director of sales for the Hamilton Princess.

"When they come in, their faces light up when they see the Christmas tree, the gingerbread house and twinkling decorations that we have created especially for them. The biggest thrill, as you can imagine, is on Saturday and Sunday when Santa arrives for storytelling. Some of them are so excited that they laugh all afternoon."

New this year is the inclusion of an afternoon children's etiquette class each Sunday at 2.30 p.m., led by Bermudian protocol expert Trudy Snaith.

Ms Snaith, founder and director of Bermuda's Executive School of Protocol, will introduce young people to social skills for contemporary times.

"This isn't a class focused on how to sip tea and eat cucumber sandwiches, but rather a chance to share with the children how a tea party or other event can be used to enjoy the company of other people and how good behaviour and manners can help them do that," she said.

"In today's busy world we don't take time for ourselves and enjoy the company of others

"I think it's important to know how to get along with other people in a social setting. We need to try to move children away from sitting in front of at TV or computer to having a conversation with others, relaxing and taking time to reflect and enjoy the simple things.

"Learning the art of socialisation is so important because children, and adults, are becoming encapsulated with computers and TV and won't able to make conversation and exchange pleasantries with others in a social setting."

The formal instruction will be brief followed by individual attention as Ms Snaith visits each child at his or her table to answer questions and give hints to help them remember what to do.

A special teddy bear, named Penelope's Bear, will also attend the Sunday etiquette classes at her very own tea table so children can have their pictures taken with her. At the end of the tea, each child enrolled in the etiquette class will take home a souvenir booklet as a reminder of the event and the new things they have learned.

The Teddy Bear Tea is $19 for children under 12 who donate a new teddy bear of stuffed animal or $25 for children without teddy bears. The Sunday tea and etiquette class is $35 for children. Adults attending the Teddy Bear Tea are $35. Reservations are required and can be made through the hotel's concierge on 295-3000, ext 5779