The holiday season will be here soon，and with it come tons of parties. Here's how to mind your manners at the dinner table：
First things first：
Mind the little details. Respond to invitations in time；it's always better to be overdressed；be fashionably on time；bring a gift for your host or hostess；and remember to silence your phone and keep it out of sight.
After you sit down：
The first thing you should do is place your napkin（餐巾）in your lap. Leave it there until the end of the meal. If you excuse yourself from the table，the most common practice is to place it on your seat until you return. If you're worried that your napkin has food on it that could make the seat or your clothes dirty when you sit back down，place it to the left of your plate instead.
To locate your bread plate and drink：
When in doubt，look to your hands. With your palms（手掌）facing each other，connect the tip of each pointer finger（食指）with your thumbs（拇指）. You'll see that your left hand will form a "b"，and your right hand，a "d". These stand for "bread" and "drink"，which you will find to your left and to your right，separately.
What to do with utensils（餐具）：
Your safest bet is to start from the outside﹣the utensils farthest from your plate﹣and move inward as the meal progresses. However，dessert（甜点）utensils may also be found above your plate.
Resting utensils：
If you are taking a break from eating，imagine your plate is a clock and place your knife and fork down at the 3 o'clock position. You can show that you are finished eating by placing your utensils in the 10 and 4 o'clock positions.
After the party：
Don't forget a thank﹣you note. It should be sent within two weeks after the event.
