Just as one expends great effort to prepare for the visit of a distinguished guest, so too must one prepare in honor of Shabbat and welcome it. The Sages relate that many rabbis would themselves be involved in the preparations for Shabbat.

Rabbi Hanina would wrap himself and stand at nightfall on Shabbat eve, and say: Come and we will go out to greet Shabbat the queen. Rabbi Yannai would don his garment before Shabbat and say: Enter, bride. Enter, bride...

Rav Safra would roast an animal head to eat on Shabbat; Rava would salt a shibuta fish to eat on Shabbat; Rav Huna would kindle lamps for Shabbat; Rav Pappa would spin the wicks for the Shabbat lamps. Rav Hisda would cut the beets to eat on Shabbat; Rabba and Rav Yosef would cut wood for kindling for Shabbat; Rabbi Zeira would prepare thin sticks for Shabbat. (Shabbat 119a)