“Help! I’ve been invited to a holiday dinner and I don’t know how I should behave!” It’s all too common a dilemma at this time of the year when holiday dinners are being celebrated with family, co workers, and friends. Thankfully, you wouldn’t have to bear social embarrassment with our holiday dining etiquette tips!
#1 Accepting an Invitation
Once you’ve received an invitation, be sure to respond to it within a week after receipt. Go over the invitation details and check for dress code (if any) or +1 options. If you plan on bringing someone with you, make sure to check in with the host first. You might also want to take along a small gift such as chocolates, a bottle of wine, or flowers. Be sure not to be late!
#2 Familiarize Yourself with Table Setting
Sometimes there are just too many forks, knives, plates and glasses on the table that it gets quite overwhelming. You might even end up using your neighbor’s utensils! Keep in mind the B.M.W. rule when it comes to table setting. From left to right, the order is bread, meal and water. This means that solids like the bread and butter or salad plate are on the left, and liquids like your water or wine glass are on your right. As a rule in dinner table etiquette, use your silverware from the outside in.
#3 Proper Way of Eating
Don’t start eating yet unless everyone has been served! Usually, the host gives a signal when to start eating. Of course, basic dinner table etiquette dictates that you don’t talk with your mouth full!
When handling your knife, don’t saw into food. Just cut, and do it one piece at a time. Never clutch your knife and start waving it around or pointing it to another guest when conversing or trying to make a point. If you can’t reach a particular item far across the table, don’t reach for it but ask politely for it to be passed to you instead. After eating, place your knife and fork in the “finished” position where the tips are at 10 o’clock and handles at 4 o’clock.
#4 CR Breaks
You’ve had too much to eat and drink, and now you have to take a bathroom break. Excuse yourself and leave your napkin on your chair. And if you must go and do the number two, it might be a good idea to let it go instead of holding it in!
This could be a potentially embarrassing experience especially when you’re using a shared restroom, but thankfully there are toilet sprays you can use to leave the room smelling good and fresh!
Poo~Pourri’s Shittin’ Pretty Before-You-Go is a toilet spray that forms a protective layer of nice smelling essential oils that keeps bathroom odors under water. Keeping the bath room fresh-smelling after the dreaded number 2 is one of our top holiday party etiquette tips!
And of course, remember to just be yourself and have fun! Engage in light conversation, be polite and gracious to your host and fellow guests, and enjoy their company. As a final step to holiday dining etiquette, you can also send a personal thank you note to the host afterwards.
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