Mind Your Manners – Holiday Etiquette Mistakes
Everyone gets so busy around the holidays and we always forget something. Well, this year, lets not forget our manners. Here are six etiquette mistakes we all make.
Not Sending a Thank You Note
This was the most common mistake people make. Someone probably searched long and hard to find you that perfect present they knew you'd love. Let them know that their efforts were not in vain by sending them a small note to say thank you and that you appreciated their gesture. This is especially true if they put you up in their home over the holiday celebrations.
Not Sending a Holiday Card
About a third of us don't send a holiday card. That number jumps to half in the under 35 age set. It doesn't have to be the one page letter letting everyone know what you are up to, unless maybe you had a baby or something huge like that, but a nice card it always appreciated.
Giving an Electronic Gift with No Batteries
Kids want to use their toys RIGHT NOW and if that toy needs batteries, it's always a good idea to put them in the box.
Not Giving the Host a Gift
Don't show up to a party empty handed. One in four of us are guilty of this. A bottle of wine to share is always nice and if it doesn't get opened during that party, most people keep it in reserve to use for their next party.
Giving Fruit Cake
This is a white elephant gift exchange standard, so if that's the type of party you're going to, it's fine, but you probably shouldn't give this one as a serious present unless it's asked for. The fruit cakes I get just end up as door stops.
Canned Cranberries at the Meal
Three in five women thought that canned cranberries were fine, while more than half of men preferred the fresh kind. That's great, but how many men do you know that will actually stand in the kitchen and make these things? If no one can agree on canned versus fresh cranberries, a vodka/cranberry cocktail is something everyone can probably agree on.