DON’T Do This at Thanksgiving Dinner
Around this time each year etiquette experts are asked what things you should NOT do this year at Thanksgiving. These are all common sense, so let’s see if you know what to do.
Number one is Not RSVP-ing. If you receive an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner, it is expected and polite to RSVP whether you’re going or not. What’s even worse is to not RSVP and then show up anyway. This is rude and wrong for many reasons. If someone did this to me I’d think that I was their backup plan.
Ignoring the schedule is also a no-no. Again, being respectful when you’re a guest is very important. Follow the rules that your host or hostess asks you to follow, if dinner is at six and you show up at eight without notifying them in advance, you probably shouldn’t have agreed to go.
Bringing dishes that require cooking is one of the worst things you can do, again, unless it’s been prearranged. If you show up with food, you better make sure that food is ready to eat or simply heated up.
This goes without saying, but it still happens. Starting tense conversations, like politics, is never a good thing. If you think about it, even if everyone had the same views, which never happens, it’s still destined to be a blood pressure-raising discussion that kills any possible fun.
Stay out of the kitchen! Unless your help is requested, don’t try to take over or tell your host how YOU do it.
If you have an allergy or have dietary restrictions let your host in advance or don’t tell them at all. Not eating and tell them at the dinner table only makes them feel bad. However, a thoughtful host will ask in advance, but they’re not wrong if they don’t.
And always, always, always, show up with something. Food for the meal, if pre-arranged, a bottle of wine, or a gift for the host. Yes, you do need to!
I hope you have a pleasant, enjoyable, and peaceful Thanksgiving:)
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