How Do We Honor Shabbat? Some tips from the Rabbis...

Talmud Shabbat 118b

When it says: “And you shall call the Shabbat delight,” one must say: It is the delight of Shabbat. The Gemara asks: With what does one delight in the day of Shabbat? Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: With a dish of beets, and large fish, and heads of garlic.

Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said that Rav said: Even with regard to a small item and one prepared it in deference to Shabbat, it is a delight. The Gemara asks: What is the small item mentioned? Rav Pappa said: Small fried fish.

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Shabbat 30:7

What is meant by [Sabbath] delight? This refers to our Sages' statement that a person must prepare a particularly sumptuous dish and a pleasantly flavored beverage for the Sabbath. All of this must be done within the context of a person's financial status.

One is not obligated to strain oneself or to borrow from others in order to prepare more food for the Sabbath. The Sages of the former generations said, "Make your Sabbaths as weekdays, but do not depend on others."(Pesachim 113a)

A person who is indulgent and wealthy and conducts all days as Sabbaths must also partake of different foods on the Sabbath from those of which they partake during the week. If [their fare] cannot be changed, they should [at least] change the time at which they eat [their meals]. [For example,] if one usually eats early, they should eat later. If one usually eats late, they should eat earlier.

Shulkhan Aruch, Orach Chayyim 250:1-2

A person should arise on Friday early to prepare for Shabbat; even if they have many servants to serve them, they should find something small to do. We see this with Rav Chisda who would cut vegetables finely; Rabah and Rav Yosef, who would chop wood; Rabbi Zeira who would light the flame; And Rav Nachman, who would clean the house and replace the weekday cutlery with cutlery designated for Shabbat. We can emulate these people and one should not say: "It is unbecoming of me," for this is the honor of Shabbat. Rama: Additionally one should sharpen a knife to ease eating.

A person should have more meat, wine and treats, to the best of their ability.

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Shabbat 30:2

What is meant by honor? This refers to our Sages' statement that it is a mitzvah for a person to wash their face, hands, and feet in hot water on Friday in honor of the Sabbath.

Among the ways of honoring the Sabbath is wearing a clean garment. Ezra ordained that the people launder their clothes on Thursday as an expression of honor for the Sabbath.

Shulkhan Aruch, Orach Chayim 262:1

One shall set their table, make up their couches, and take care of all matters of the home so that one finds them arranged and set upon their return from synagogue.

הֲדַרַן עַלָךְ מַסֶּכֶת _____ וְהֲדַרַך עֲלָן, דַּעְתָּן עֲלָךְ מַסֶּכֶת _____ וְדַעְתָּךְ עֲלָן. לָא נִתֽנַשֵׁי מִינָךְ מַסֶּכֶת _____ וְלֹא תִּתֽנַשִׁי מִינַן, לָא בְּעָלְמָא הָדֵין וְלֹא בְּעָלְמָא דְאַָתֵי
We will return to you, Tractate ____ [fill in the name of the tractate], and you will return to us; our mind is on you, Tractate ____, and your mind is on us; we will not forget you, Tractate ____, and you will not forget us – not in this world and not in the next world.