Thanksgiving
Day is a day of gratitude for our blessings. It is a day we gather with
friends and family to celebrate a portion of those blessings with a feast
of food.
Thanksgiving etiquette
tips for a grateful gathering.
For the Host
1. Ask
for help - If you are feeling overwhelmed and need a
little help, ask a family member or a guest for help. Guests are always
willing to help out and it gives them time to share with you.
2. Use
place cards - Place your guests next to people you think
they'll most enjoy talking to and keep relatives apart who don't see
eye-to-eye. Couples are split up so they can meet new
people. If you notice a conversation getting heated, jump in and
change the subject.
3. A
hostess belongs with her guests, not in the kitchen -
Clear the table, stack the dishes, put away anything that might spoil, but
leave the clean-up until everyone has gone or do the dishes in morning.
For the Guest
1. Bring
a hostess gift - Wine, chocolates, holiday dish towels,
flowers are a few suggestions.
2. Ask
if you can bring a dish - Offer some suggestions of
what you're comfortable bringing. You could say: "What may I
bring? I do make a yummy pumpkin cheesecake."
3. Be
a great guest - Introduce yourself to everyone. Start
conversations by sharing how you know the host. Ask to help in the kitchen
while the hostess is cooking, Offer to refill drinks, and after
dinner while she's cleaning up. Entertain the kids.
4. Avoid
these topics - Religion, politics, dietary
restrictions and off color jokes. Don't get stuck in the middle of a
debate. You may want to say: "I enjoy talking politics, but
today I'm focusing on getting to know everyone's stories. What's your best
Thanksgiving memory from childhood?" That approach is part of Thanksgiving
manners.
Thanksgiving Bonus
Tip:
If you are a guest who brought
food to the meal, and you leave early, you can take your container, but leave
all (or most of) the extra food with the host in case someone wants seconds, or
thirds. If you don't leave early, offer to leave the food you brought. If they
say to take it, that's fine.
I wish
everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving with lots of heart felt memories.
Enjoy your love ones and your time together.
Please visit our website www.itsallaboutetiquette.com or call
480 510-6346 for our 2019 course schedules.
