Good manners go a long way, especially when you’re the guest at someone’s holiday gathering. A lot of us will find ourselves in that position next week for Thanksgiving, that’s why it’s time to set the record straight on things guests do that they think are “polite,” but can be considered quite rude.
Even if you mean well, you’ll want to avoid these common etiquette mistakes at Thanksgiving.
- Bringing your own (large) leftover containers - Everyone knows the best part of the huge Turkey Day feast is the leftovers, and everybody wants to take some home. But unless your host has specifically asked you to bring containers for extras, you should leave your Tupperware at home. If leftovers are offered to you, use the dish you brought to hold them.
- Providing your expertise on how to prepare food the host is cooking - Even if you’re a gourmet chef, unless the host asks for your opinion or input, keep it to yourself. If you want to help, read the room and find something that needs to be done that doesn’t require any direction, like hanging up coats for people or being the bartender.
- Bringing ingredients for a dish the host ends up having to make - Taking a tasty dish to share at the holiday feast is awesome, but not if it requires more work for the host once you arrive. Expect that the oven will be full, the countertops will be overloaded and the fridge, well it’s been jam-packed since Tuesday. So make your dish completely ahead of time because there likely won’t be space or time for you to do it there.
- Asking if you can help … repeatedly - Offering to help the host is always a good idea, but bugging them about it over and over again isn’t helpful, it’s annoying. Ask once to make it clear you’re available if they need you, and when there’s something you can do, they’ll let you know.
- Offering to cook when your skills are limited - Thanksgiving isn’t the time to refine your skills in the kitchen. If you’ve never made gravy, you’re going to need some serious guidance to get it done, but tasks like peeling potatoes and trimming green beans are great for newbies.
- Suggesting a change to the place settings - If your host has decided where guests should sit, don’t question that, even if you just want to “keep the peace.” You may have to suffer through stories of Aunt Sharon’s latest bus tour of Savannah or hear about her bunion surgery, but it’s one meal. You’ll be fine.
Source: All Recipes⠀