You’re common if you have a fake Christmas tree, use tinsel or wear matching PJs, says etiquette expert William Hanson
FEW people would say Christmas is sophisticated as such - what with cheesy festive pop songs, bad jokes in crackers and novelty earrings just some of the many beloved British traditions at this time of year.
However, while even the royal family get into the spirit - by exchanging cheeky tat on Christmas Eve - there are certain signifiers you're enjoying a particularly 'common' festive period, according to an expert.
William Hanson, who is an , has spoken exclusively to Fabulous Digital about all the thing marking you out this Christmas as very much not posh...
Flashing neon lights
Along with tinsel and novelty baubles, putting up flashing lights - indoors or outdoors - in various colours is a big no-no.
"They are generally awful," says Hanson. "Less is very much more, and lights should be only white or off-white with at most a gentle fade-in fade-out.
"They should be representative of the stars - which I don't think are neon pink, purple, blue or green - and whatever you do, don't bedeck the entire house.
"Also all the strobing lights that people put up are not only naff but I worry for epileptics. What you get at this time of year, they must all be on the floor."
Artificial trees
Your Christmas tree should be real. "Anything that's trying to pretend it's something it's not, is a bit naff," explains Hanson.
"A fake tree is not a real tree...and it's not like genuine ones aren't readily available. While you can buy some very realistic artificial versions nowadays, it's still not the same."
Bucks Fizz
While champagne and sherry are fine, many typical festive beverages are risky.
"When we go down the Christmas cocktail route we're in serious naff territory," notes Hanson.
"For example Bucks Fizz. Egg Nog is American - so it's fine over there - but it's too sweet and gloopy anyway..."
Beauty advent calendar
Unless you are a child, nobody should be tucking into cheap supermarket-bought chocolate advent calendars if they want to retain an air of class.
"Advent calendars should preferably be non-chocolate for starters - and should ideally be religious," says Hanson.
But it's the new wave of beauty advent calendars most likely to mark you out as 'common' this year.
"There's a growing trend for beauty advent calendars, even at upmarket department stores like Liberty," continues Hanson.
"But they're a bit much. They may not be terribly downmarket, but they're definitely not terribly sophisticated either."
Christmas feasting
Hanson warns you should never have eyes bigger than your belly during Christmas dinner.
"The key is don't pile up your plate," he explains.
"For a roast meal we would normally say it's a meat, with one type of potato, and two other veg. In fact, the fewer veg the better, generally."
Supermarket turkey is acceptable, but "ideally it would be a homegrown turkey from your family's farm, or the farm of someone who has married into your family".
Matching PJs
Coordinated festive loungewear may be a growing trend, but they reek of unsophistication.
"People are convinced they're being terribly 'designer' or think it'll be great for Instagram," says Hanson.
"But it actually just looks a bit tragic."
He's also not a fan of families who wear their PJs for the entirety of December 25th.
"That's just awful," the expert admits. "It should be collared shirts with smart trousers for men, and smart trousers or skirts for women."
Morning present opening
The later in the day you open your presents, the more sophisticated - meaning ripping over the wrapping paper at the crack of dawn is inadvisable.
"Christmas day should be an exercise in restraint," says Hanson.
"Stockings aside - which children can open in the morning to keep them entertained - all main presents would ideally be exchanged after the Queen's Christmas speech in the afternoon."
And the newly-popular Christmas Eve boxes are not intrinsically bad - but if you're giving stockings too then it's simply "over-kill".
Family newsletters
Updates on holidays and the kids' achievements should never be included in a Christmas card.
"They're awful, it's just showing off," explains Hanson.
"If you feel the need to update somebody on your family's comings and goings with a newsletter, it shows you haven't stayed in touch with them throughout the year.
"So just don't have them as friends - rather than fill them in annually with a piece of paper."
Instagram updates
Being online during Christmas Day is another 'common' activity.
"By all means be on your phone to take photographs and capture special moments with videos, but I would not post them on the day itself," says Hanson.
"It is not a competition about who has the nicest baubles or who has hung their tinsel the best. It's supposed to be about the people you are with - not the people you are not with. "
Christmas jumpers
When get changed out of your PJs, don't be tempted to put on a festive sweater either.
"Awful," notes Hanson. "What's more, there's so much acrylic in them and people tend to wear them just once. So as well as a waste of money it's bad for the environment."
Saying "Santa"
We're in the UK not the US. "It's Father Christmas," insists Hanson.
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