You might want to rethink that Christmas pregnancy reveal, according to an etiquette expert, because announcing you’re expecting on the holiday is rude.
“It is disrespectful and very inconsiderate to shine the floodlight on yourself and to interrupt everyone’s enjoyment of the day,” professional purveyor of taste Liz Wyse told the Telegraph.
Those who are expecting can keep their drinks virgin, and save their good news for later, she insisted.
And it’s not just news about a bun in the oven, either. Wyse said that the same goes for announcing engagements since showing off a diamond ring is a no-no.
She said that people who announce big things on Christmas are trying to hog the spotlight when the only ham should be on the dinner table.
“Some might think announcing big news is the cherry on the Christmas cake, but it’s really piling too much on to the Christmas bonanza,” said Wyse, who works for British etiquette coaching company Debrett’s.
Wyse compared announcing a pregnancy on Christmas to getting engaged on someone’s graduation day.
“There’s this element of upstaging – ‘forget about your big day, it’s all about me!’ ” she explained.
Instead, she had some sage advice for those celebrating the holidays: “Christmas is a convivial celebration. Spending time with family should be the priority,” she said.
Proper Christmas manners vary from family to family and according to an etiquette expert at Tatler, the time you open your gifts can raise some eyebrows.
While kids may wake their parents at dawn in anticipation of opening their gifts, tearing open the wrapping paper before breakfast is seen as “vulgar.”
People can peep inside their Christmas stockings in the morning, but they should wait until after lunch to open their presents under the tree, the expert said.
But when is the best time to announce a holiday engagement or pregnancy? Etiquette tutor Jo Bryant told the Telegraph that happy personal news is best to save for after Boxing Day (Dec. 26).
“Whilst you may be excited to share the news, it may be best to only share with your very nearest and dearest rather than broadcasting across social media or to your ‘outer circle,’ ” she said. “After Boxing Day, most people actually start to feel quite flat and worn out after all the build-up and preparation for the day, so saving the news until then can make it much more impactful.”
