The Etiquette Teacher
A blog about etiquette, manners, raising polite children, and other related thoughts.
The Envelope Please
“May I have the envelope please.” The Oscars will be on TV Sunday and we will see many envelopes opened before a proclamation of who the Oscar goes to. Fortunately for the accounting firm who has responsibility for stuffing the envelopes, they don't have to formally...
Where Does the Napkin Go? (Part 2: Leaving the Table)
In my last blog post, I previously went over how the napkin always goes on the lap during a meal. But what happens when you need to leave the table? This is one of those aspects of etiquette that is hotly debated among etiquette professionals. There are those that...
Where Does the Napkin Go? (Part 1: Place Setting)
Growing up, I didn’t set the table that often for dinner. As the oldest of six, I was usually assigned the task of washing dishes; setting the table went to a younger sibling or two. Even so, I remember my mother instructing me that the fork went on the left and...
More Fine Dining – For Less
I like going out to dinner. Someone else cooks, serves me the food, and cleans up after me. I love going out with my whole family; it gives us a great opportunity to connect and linger over dinner, without the distractions of home. Fine dining makes it even more...
To Regift or Not To Regift?
The Thursday before Christmas has been designated as National Regifting Day. That seems about the right timing to panic if you haven't finished shopping yet. This year, with Christmas on a Monday, by Thursday it may even be too late for Amazon Prime to get a gift to...
Tips for the Thanksgiving Guest
Norman Rockwell [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Thanksgiving dinner for my family this year won’t look like a Normal Rockwell painting. It’s not a bad thing; there simply isn’t a table large enough for all 25 of us who will be converging on my sister-in-law’s...
There’s Nothing Scary About Halloween Manners
Halloween is less than a week away as I write this. I really like handing out candy on Halloween. I enjoy seeing all the costumes and the smiles I get for handing out full size candy bars. (It’s a reward for the few brave souls who will dare to come down my...
What is this fork used for?
Back in the Victorian era, you were absolutely not to take any food with your hands (which was a good thing given the standards for hygiene in those days!). But if you were to be a member of high society, you had to make sure you touched those foods with the proper...
Using Formal Dishes Part 2: Fancy Dishes Dinner
In my last blog post, I addressed why I think it’s a good idea to have formal dinner dishes. Today, I want to talk about actually using those dishes. So let me introduce you to a tradition in my family: Fancy Dishes Dinner. Every Sunday, as often as possible, we break...