“And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun,
the near and the dear ones
the old and the young.
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year!
Let’s hope it’s a good one
without any fear…”
(John Lennon, “So this is Christmas”)
The holidays are around the corner. Traditionally, we gather with our families and celebrate this wonderful season together. Sometimes, we receive invitations from friends and relatives who want to share this special time with us. In any case, we usually end up in somebody’s home sharing quality time with people we truly care about.
Whether it is lunch or dinner, a great way to show gratitude is by paying attention to every detail and acting with manners. These are the essentials of dining etiquette that I highly recommend:
- Respond to an invitation within a week of receiving it.
- A small gift is always highly appreciated (Cookies, chocolates, champagne).
- An Interesting etiquette recommendation is that desserts may be eaten with both a spoon and fork.
- This is a great one: When sharing a sauce with others, spoon some of it onto your plate. Do not dip your food into it.
- You can start eating when your host starts eating or he invites you to start.
- When there are several utensils in a table, use the one farthest from the plate.
- Do not refold your napkin. It will not be used again even if you fold it!
- Say “thank you” when you leave your hosts.
More importantly, start great conversations, smile with everyone, and live the present moment. Rejoice in the fact that there is food in your table as well as friends and family to cherish. This is Christmas!
*Written by Nubia Granja.
Online Resources:
http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/dinner-table-etiquette.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/rules-of-dining-etiquette-2012-4
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/etiquette-tips-for-dining.html
http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table_manners/table_manner_tips.html
So this is Christmas (Celine Dion Version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf8db3Vz95I
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