Vintage view: A practical guide to dining etiquette for Christmas and New Year

Manners maketh the man or woman and in the era of finger-lickin’ good, Kya deLongchamps gives a practical guide to essential etiquette for smart dinners over Christmas and New Year.

At one time we had a personal armoury — a dozen rapier-like utensils transporting everything from soft fruit to shellfish to the mouth — guided by a silver-plated code of practise.

Today, the only thing stopping us returning to our Mesolithic manners is searing heat and the slippery nature of food. Bearing in mind that only socially-insecure, badly brought-up bores will ever make remarks or judging looks about table behaviour, here are a few tips.