Thanksgiving Day Etiquette
Welcome back to the Collegiate Communities Blog! November is the month for giving thanks, so today we want to help you prepare for making Thanksgiving a pleasant experience for everyone. Read on for some Thanksgiving etiquette tips to keep in mind, whether you’re staying in your apartment or heading elsewhere in or around West Lafayette, IN.
Offer to help.
Thanksgiving is a big meal, and while many people are skilled and organized enough to be able to pull it off on their own, others might need help! And simply being willing to bring a side dish or two will open up space in each chef’s kitchen so they can prepare their meal with a little less chaos crowding their home, their schedule, or their mind. So contribute to whatever meal you’ll be eating at, whether you’re bringing a drink, dish, table centerpiece, decoration, or silverware or plates. And if you can’t bring anything (or if you can but still want to help), offer to help clean up to further lighten the load.
Be on time.
Planning your day so you actually eat your Thanksgiving meal when you’ve planned to is not impossible — it’s an art. Depending on which dishes you have to prepare and how much last-minute cleaning or decorating you have to do, you may even need to start prepping a few days in advance. Just plan out how much time you’ll need for cooking, decorating, cleaning, setting up, and traveling so you’re not the one everyone’s waiting on.
Keep the conversation light.
This holiday can be infamous for family fights rising up over the table, old feuds being rekindled, or controversial topics popping up. Create or help cultivate a welcoming, safe environment for everyone attending your dinner so you can build or strengthen relationships, or simply so you can all eat in peace. If you’re not sure what to talk about, do what feels natural. Catch up on what people are doing in life, and be supportive and happy in your responses. Bring up fond memories if you’re feeling nostalgic, or solidify your plans for upcoming events and holidays so you can all be on the same page. Be personable so everyone can spread that same attitude around.
What other Thanksgiving day etiquette tips should we remember? Let us know what we’ve missed by leaving a comment! Thanks for reading!