Contributing Writer
Julia Kirsten
IT'S DECEMBER THE JOLLY......
time of year when you’ll attend more social gatherings in one month than you did in the other eleven combined. Whether you’re watching football and eating Bonbons with Grandpa Joe, clinking champagne glasses with your boss, or accompanying a date to their family’s 20th annual white elephant party, holiday etiquette isn’t just important. It’s necessary.
Here are 28on27’s top 10 Do’s and Don’ts of the holiday season:
1). RSVP as soon as possible. And on the day of the party, don’t arrive too late. Generally, any later than 15 minutes after the start of the event is unacceptable.
2). Bring a gift for the host. A great, inexpensive gift could be a bottle of wine (unless the host doesn’t drink alcohol), lightly scented candles, a picture frame, or a hard-covered cookbook.
3). Pick a good “plus one.” If your friend Kimmy is known to bust out her killer Lady Gaga dance moves on every wooden surface she comes in contact with, it might not be the best idea to invite her to your company’s holiday extravaganza. If she acts up, you can bet you’ll take the blame.
4). Have your glass in your left hand, so you can shake hands with your right. This tip can nix the awkward fumbling of hands and can potentially avoid you the embarrassment of spilling your drink all over yourself. Or on someone else.
5). Make the host aware of your dietary needs ahead of time. However, if you’re on some sort of Atkins’s diet, South Beach, or whatever, you need to ditch the diet for the night. Don’t be that guest. If you’re a vegetarian or have food allergies, please speak up. Give the host plenty of time to meet your accommodations.
6). Meet new people. It’s a party.
Talk to people!
7). Avoid drama. Even
if you’re still upset at kleptomaniac Aunt Agatha for sneaking your silverware
into her purse over Thanksgiving, the party isn’t the time or place to bring it
up.
8). Don’t over eat, over
drink, or over dance. Just because it’s all you can eat, drink, and dance,
doesn’t mean you should. This is especially true for a company party. Remember,
most people will judge you.
9). Wear appropriate
clothing. Dressing “festive” doesn’t mean whipping out the Sexy Santa
costume. Women should avoid anything that shows too much leg or cleavage. If
you have to ask yourself if it’s inappropriate, it probably is. Men should
dress professional, jeans are a no-go. Remember, it’s always a good idea to be
dressed up than dressed down.
10). Send a handwritten
thank-you card to the host. The only exception to this rule is if the host
is a close family member. If that’s the case, tell Mom and Dad thanks, and give
them a hug. Everyone else needs a card. Preferably one with a little sparkly
reindeer on it. If you absolutely can’t do a card, a quick e-mail is
sufficient.
And the biggest “do” of them all, have fun! We wish you a happy
holiday party season!
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Modern Madam Photography
Modern Madam Photography
