Holiday Communication Tips

MCLIPAY COMAU NICATTON TIPS from your pals at Jellyeiaion The holidays can be full of communication challenges. How do you discuss Santa with kids without outright lying? What warm, inclusive greeting should you put in your warm, inclusive holiday card? What the heck is wassailing, anyway? We've put together a few holiday communication tips so your festive season can be confusion and faux-pas free. If you read none of them because you're too busy with errands and surprise last-minute houseguests, just remember this: NEVER STAND BENEATH A MISTLETOE. The word "mistletoe" may come from the German words "mist" for dung and "tān" for branch, and while there's probably not dung in your mistletoe, you can never be too careful. TOP 6 SAFE TOPICS FOR CONVERSATIONS WITH STRANGE RELATIVES and people you don't know at your significant other's holiday party Kids these days (those clothes, that slang, that Snap-to-Chat) Stamps (what's your favorite stamp?) Jennifer Lawrence (the best, so adorable) The food your host has provided (it is yummy. yes it is yummy) The weather (how good, how bad, how much, how little) Thermonuclear war (everyone is scared of thermonuclear war, create common ground) WAYS TO SAY "THANK YOU" FOR GIFTS YOU'RE NOT 100% THANKFUL FOR Dear cherished family member/ friend/ neighbon/vendon/ etranger who gavr me a gift for some reason: Thank you for the It is so unique! It is so edible! It is just the right size, and made from such durable fabric. Words fail me, except one: thanks. l'll think of you whenever I I have the perfect spot in mind for it in our You shouldn't look at it. home. have! It is OK if this means "attic" HOLIDAY LYRICS DECODED Frosty the Snowman "Thumpity thump thump, thumpity thump thump" MEANING That is the sound an anthropomorphic snowman makes when he drags his snow-body across town. Deck the Halls "Fa la la la la la la la la" MEANING Old English for "wait, there are how many boxes of decorations left in the attic?" Jingle Bells "Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright" MEANING A bobcat has gotten into your sleigh, triggering the bobcat bell alarm. RUN. Auld Lang Syne "We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne" MEANING This is literally gibberish. Someone has had too much celebratory champagne. CREATIVE NEW COOKIES FROM BORING OL' COOKIE CUTTERS Gingerbread man, upside down = reindeer Menorah = Kwanzaa kinara Snowman = Snowflake - light bulb ninja star Stocking Florida Kwanzaa kinara Wolverine claw Have a delightful holiday season! © 2014 The Jellyvision Lab, Inc. All rights reserved.