Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: 25 december, chocolates, christmas, credit crunch, elizabeth shaw, etiquette
Last time I posted some etiquette tips on gift giving and Christmas parties. This post is all about (and please remember most of what I say are suggestions) Christmas Day etiquette.
Christmas Day
1. You may be dreading the 25th, simply because the number of presents under the tree is depleted compared to last year and your children’s reaction will be one of disappointment rather than glee. Why not make one of their presents a framed picture of the family on holiday or another happy time – this can help remind everyone that it’s not about the number of gifts but rather the thought that has gone into them
2. Turn off the TV! Despite the temptation to sit in front of the telly all day, get out to the local park with a football, play a board game, visit an elderly neighbour in your street with mince pies – do anything that is about interacting instead of just vegging out
3. Be nice to yourself and to each other. The day should not highlight what you don’t have, but instead about what you DO have. Remember that stress and frustration are natural reactions at this time of year and try as best as you can to rise above it – you never know, you may even have the best Christmas ever!
Merry Christmas!
Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: chocolates, christmas, credit crunch, elizabeth shaw, etiquette, gifts, presents
Christmas may have come early this year with a discount kick-start from high street retailers, but are we forgetting in our credit crunch panic that the festivities is not all about commercialism and spending? Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates put this question to me and asked if I could reveal how to get the most out of Christmas during harder times.
I believe that there is a danger of the cost of Christmas still taking over when instead we should be going back to our roots to rediscover some of the more traditional aspects of the Yuletide season. While it is completely rational for people to want to capitalise on discounts and spend money on each other, the economic downturn could actually be a good opportunity for people to also spend more time and thought on the people in their lives.
We have increasingly become a nation that wants a quick fix for our time-poor society and all too often that comes at the cost of doing things correctly. Christmas is one of those occasions when a little thought goes a long way. The basis of good etiquette is considering other people before yourself and so by following some simple rules you can ensure the festivities bring you more riches than you expected.
Gift giving
1. Write down five things about each person you buy for before you head to the shops. This will help cancel out impulse buys and make you really consider what each person would like
2. Instead of overspending on everyone, write a letter or card to them along with a smaller gift and explain why you value them in your life
3. If you are planning on not buying for the same number of people as usual, send a card earlier than usual explaining they are in your thoughts but that you would like to spend time with them and that this would be an ideal present from them to you– this will help stop embarrassing situations if they buy you a gift
Christmas parties
1. It may be that this year you are thinking of not attending as many parties as usual – the expense of clothes, presents, drinks and taxis mount up after all. Make sure you accept and decline well ahead of the events as the people hosting will also be counting the pennies and will not want to overproduce
2. However! There’s no need to be totally miserable just because you’re cutting back. Take the initiative – re-accessorise outfits from last year, plan to share a taxi with other people and take presents that are affordable luxuries (such as a box of Elizabeth Shaw chocolates!)
3. If you are hosting a party – don’t overdo it, even if you can afford to. This year people may well feel overwhelmed by an ostentatious show of pink Champagne and caviar. Think more cava and M&S party bites.
Check the blog on Christmas Eve for some tips about Christmas Day.
Filed under: Daily Life | Tags: 21st century, bad manneres, bible, communication, corinthians, mobile, stress
Britons are becoming increasingly bad-mannered because of the stressful pace of life, researchers say. Just one in five of us makes a point of saying ‘please’ when asking for something. A simple ‘thank you’ is even rarer, with nine in ten people admitting they fail to express their gratitude when someone has helped them out. A similar proportion said they wouldn’t bother apologising if they bumped into someone and one in eight confessed they would let a door slam in someone’s face if they were in a hurry.
So because of our constant accessibility and mobile presence, should we perhaps compromise our common sense and let courtesies wane? Well, I think you’ll all know my view. But I shall let the writers of the Bible have the word on this:
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
