Christmas is a wonderful time of year (the most wonderful time of the year, some would say), but just because everyone is happy and full of holiday spirit, that doesn’t mean you can let manners and the proper etiquette fall by the wayside. At Christmas, it’s just as important to avoid a faux pas as at any other time of the year. So here are some helpful hints on making this Christmas a social whirl.
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Your Thank Yous
Christmas is a time of giving, and that means you’ll also be doing a lot of receiving, which is great – presents are fun and enjoying them either in a group or by yourself is part of the joy of the festive season. However, you must say thank you for any gift you are given, even if you didn’t really like it too much. Showing gratitude for your gifts is polite and is a sign of good manners, and it’s just generally a nice thing to do – you know how it feels when someone thanks you for something you gave them, something you possibly spent an age deciding on. So pass on that great feeling.
You don’t have to write a handwritten thank you note – although it’s lovely if you do – if you would rather send an email. What you shouldn’t do, though, is to text your thanks. Neither should you send a generic card to everyone. Your thank you needs to mention the gift you were given and why you liked it at the very least.
Bring A Bottle
It’s not great social etiquette to turn up to someone’s house empty-handed, and bringing a bottle of wine, for example, to a Christmas gathering is something that many people choose to do. However, what might surprise some people is that you’re not technically bringing that bottle so you – or anyone else – can drink it. The idea behind bringing a bottle to a party is that you hand it over and replace whatever the host is offering. So yes, bring a bottle, but don’t expect to actually drink any of the contents.
Bring More Than A Bottle
If you’re planning on staying for longer than a day, bringing more than a bottle of wine is a good idea. Bring some food, bring some spirits, bring some toiletries, or even make your own gingerbread house and bring that. The longer you are staying, the more you should bring. Your host is kind enough to be having you; they don’t need to be out of pocket too. If you can’t afford to bring much, don’t worry – offering to help out around the house is a great alternative. If you choose to bring food, stick to treats or dessert, though – bringing the main meal might make your host wonder about how much you like their food.
Social Media
Not necessarily something to worry about during a Christmas party, although if gifts are being handed out then bear it in mind, but posting images of the stacks of presents you were given on social media is an etiquette no-no. It could make you seem as though you are boasting, and others might feel bad if they haven’t matched up. Not only that, but unscrupulous people might spot something they’d like to have and, if they also know you’re going to be out, it could be stolen. Sharing your favorite gifts online is fine, just don’t show everything.
Regifting
This is a tough one. Sometimes you’ll be given something and simply not like it. It’s not to your taste; it’s just not something you would buy. So what to do with it? Hide it away and never let it see the light of day again, or give it away to someone who would appreciate it more? The latter seems like the best solution, but if you are planning to regift, make sure you remember who you got the item from in the first place – don’t give it back to them! Plus, don’t give it to someone who might know the original gifter or in the presence of the original gifter, either. You don’t want to hurt their feelings.
Wrapping Up
If you give someone food or wine as their Christmas gift, you should always wrap it up. You can wrap it in colorful Christmas paper, or you can place it in a cute basket or foil-covered bag. Don’t hand it over without any wrapping on it, though – part of the fun of being given a gift is the unwrapping to discover what it is, and no one wants the surprise given away too soon. Also, wrapping the wine or chocolates will elevate them from a guest giving the host a gift because it’s polite into a real Christmas gift instead.