Be at your festive best

The festive season is here in all its grandeur. Deepavali is probably the biggest festival of them all, with all the festivities that surround it, and then there’s Christmas. There are sweets to be made, gifts to be distributed, shopping to be done, relatives to be visited, firecrackers to burst, parties to attend. The list is endless. In the midst of all this, a dash of etiquette will not hurt.

Gifting

Gifts form a major part of festivities, so much so it’s become a business these days. Some of the most common goodies sent out are intricately packed boxes of dry fruits, Indian sweets and the favourite plum cake. I personally make a list of people to whom I send out goodies to. Every year it’s something different. I try to make something at home and get decorative boxes specially made for them. So what do you do if someone who is not on your list sends you a gift? The simple way to deal with it is to recycle what you’ve got. There will always be gifts you get in return when you send yours out. You can always remove tags and repack. Be careful not to send back gifts of people who may be in the same social circle as the receiver to avoid embarrassment. If you receive a gift for a festival that you do not celebrate, it is not necessary to send back one; although a little box of chocolates or some fruit in return would be nice.

Visiting

The best part of the festivities is visiting friends and relatives. These annual visits are a time to bond with family and keep old friendships going. Since most people will also be visiting them, always call in advance rather than showing up unannounced. Last year, we were just about to leave home when a visitor arrived unannounced and refused to leave even though we mentioned we had other plans. Keep your visits shorts and avoid visiting closer to mealtimes.

Firecrackers

Firecrackers form an integral part of celebrations. However, there seems to be an increasing awareness of the child labour involved and more people are staying away from them. With children around, safety comes first. Always have an adult to supervise when fireworks are being lit. Ensure that you and your child are wearing cotton clothes and go to an open area to light them. Parking lots and balconies are best avoided in apartments; open spaces are much safer and fun to enjoy the displays. Fireworks can be noisy, so it’s best to burst them at earthly hours. We had a neighbour who would wake up the neighbourhood at 3 a.m. with a continuous ‘10,000 wala’, much to the irritation of everyone. Be considerate about older people and babies around you.

Parties

What’s a festival without a party? The themes, décor and food are planned in advance. You may be flooded with invitations and it is alright to decline. Choose the ones you want to go to and always remember to RSVP. This helps the host in planning numbers. Try and stick to the theme if there is one and carry a gift for the host.

With so much happening around festival time, kids tend to get ignored and have no idea what to do. Try and include them in the festivities and explain the significance of the rituals performed. This is a great way to keep them busy and also to get them to learn about the festivals.

(Write in with your questions to Sulakshana at staystylish24x7@gmail.com)

Keywords: etiquette tips, Diwali, festival season