It’s the season of goodwill, but not if you mow the lawn in a Bunnings straw hat.
For while you may not know it, everything you do during the festive season is a social signifier – and these signs can reveal more about you than you might realise.
Ahead of December 25, Australians have revealed the Christmas items and habits that make you look bogan and why.
It’s the season of goodwill, but not if you have a Christmas tree full of VB cans (pictured)
The first habit hundreds of Aussies outed as ‘bogan’ is making a Christmas tree out of various cans of beer or cider (pictured)
FOOD AND DRINK
Making a Christmas tree from beer cans
The first habit hundreds of Aussies outed as ‘bogan’ is making a Christmas tree out of various cans of beer or cider.
‘Having a Christmas tree of empty cans is bogan,’ one person posted on Facebook.
‘Oh my God, I do this,’ another commenter added.
Others guiltily shared photos of their own Christmas trees made from stacked Coca Cola cans, Bundaberg and old VBs.
‘Serving cheese in cubes is a big no no,’ one person posted on Facebook (pictured); you should instead artfully display it with deli-bought crackers
Serving cubes of cheese
Etiquette expert Julie Lamberg-Burnet from the Sydney School of Protocol (pictured) said cut-up cubes of cheese or chorizo show a ‘lack of sophistication’
Cheese might be a staple to serve with dips and crackers in households across Australia over Christmas, but Australians on Facebook all agree that if you serve it cubed, you’re probably bogan.
‘Serving cheese in cubes is a big no no,’ one person posted on Facebook.
‘The fact that this is still appealing to me shows how much I love cheese,’ another added.
Etiquette expert Julie Lamberg-Burnet from the Sydney School of Protocol agreed with this idea, saying that cut-up cubes of cheese or chorizo shows a ‘lack of sophistication’ and ‘no attention to detail’.
‘If you want to be classy, watch what the professionals do,’ Julie told FEMAIL.
‘You could serve a platter with three varieties of cheese in large portions accompanied by the best quality crackers.’
Cooking your entire Christmas menu from the Coles magazine was deemed to be tacky (pictured)
Double dipping
One habit that Julie said cannot be forgiven is double dipping, whether you do it with sauces, dips or party snacks.
‘Avoid double dipping at all costs,’ she said.
‘You should also refrain from smearing all of your meals in tomato sauce, which can look bogan.’
When it comes to presents, there is one that is more bogan than others: the gift of a Lynx gift pack (pictured)
GIFTS
Lynx gift packs
When it comes to presents, there is one that is more bogan than others: the gift of a Lynx gift pack.
‘Getting a Lynx pack for Christmas off your mum is so bogan,’ one person commented.
Being ignorant and forgetting the host
Julie highlighted ignorance around gift etiquette can always be seen as tacky.
‘If you want to be classy, avoid tearing open gift wrapped parcels in a hurry and ignoring a message card which may be attached,’ Julie said.
‘Show your immense appreciation, even if the gift is not to your liking.’
The etiquette expert said you should always show your gratitude and bring a gift for your host.
‘The best things to bring for a host are chocolates, potted plants, a favourite beverage or a candle,’ she said.
Forgetting to send a thank you letter – or sending it too late
In a similar way, you should always send a thank you letter to your host.
From the event, you have just under two weeks to get it off to them.
‘Neither Christmas thank you letters nor thank you emails should be sent after the twelve days of Christmas, meaning the 6th January is the cut-off,’ Julie said.
‘Get into gear and do it.’
HABITS
Posting on social media
According to Julie, you should always ask before you post on your Facebook or Instagram feed when at someone else’s house.
‘Ask permission of either your host, guests friends or family before posting on any media platform,’ the etiquette expert said.
Others on Facebook highlighted donning a Santa hat only to post a selfie captioned ‘Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals’ as bogan.
Leaving up your Christmas decorations
You shouldn’t leave up your Christmas decorations indefinitely, Julie said, as January is not the festive season.
‘Adhere to the age-old tradition of observing Twelfth Night as the end of the Christmas season on January 6, on the Eve of the Catholic Feast of the Epiphany,’ Julie said.
You might have seen them on cars driving up and down the motorway, but Australians on Facebook all agree that putting reindeer antlers on your car is bogan (pictured)
Putting up reindeer antlers on your car
You might have seen them on cars driving up and down the motorway, but Australians on Facebook all agree that putting reindeer antlers on your car is bogan.
‘Putting reindeer antlers on your car at Christmas time is a big no no,’ one person wrote.
‘Then forgetting about them til you need to take them off to put the Aussie flags on for Australia Day.’
Others highlighted a bogan tendency among people who put the reindeer antlers on, only for one to fall off.
‘Then driving about with only one because one of your little crotch goblins messed with the window and it fell off,’ they wrote.
DECORATIONS
Having a white Christmas tree
White Christmas trees covered in decorations fall into the bogan camp for both hundreds of Australians and etiquette expert Julie.
‘Cheap fake plastic white trees covered in flimsy bits of common tinsel are a bad idea,’ Julie said.
‘Choose natural trees where possible, and avoid garish colours or white fakes.’
On Facebook, many said white Christmas trees are especially bad when they are decorated with fake snow.
Avoid laser shows unless your street in particular loves to showcase the Christmas spirit, reindeer heads and wreaths on your car, and going overboard on tinsel and baubles (pictured)
Laser shows
Avoid laser shows unless your street in particular loves to showcase the Christmas spirit, reindeer heads and wreaths on your car, and going overboard on tinsel and baubles.
Julie Lamberg-Burnet’s classy Christmas guide
Julie Lamberg-Burnet (pictured) shared her classy Christmas guide
* The trends we are seeing for the coming Christmas 2022 include metallic silver and metallic gold, different shades of green, associated with grass and leaves as natural elements. Also pink and soft blue colours for Christmas décor will also be on point according to the trend setters.
* Glamour is returning to home interiors and fashion styles. Create a difference and extend these trends into the experiences you curate for Christmas. Gone are many of the trends for total minimalism. We are seeking warmth and inviting spaces.
* Explore decorations and table scaping as opportunities to glamorise and adorn the table – think of fine sumptuous linen table cloths, linen or cotton napkins and fine glassware, heritage pieces, fresh flowers and the exquisite aroma of candles, making sure they are non-scented for the table so as to not clash with the aroma of the gorgeous food.
* Be inspired by nature and bring the outdoors in with lots of foliage and create magical looks such as draping foliage with subtle tea lights or tall candles on mantlepieces, tables and even decorating the backs of chairs. Check into the many online masterclasses and create your own unique natural foliage wreaths and floral designs.
* The tip is to keep it simple and decide on a clear direction for your Christmas displays and commit yourself to a theme and colour palette. Do not be tempted to overdo the colour scheme – streamline the displays with no more than three colourways rather than a mish mash of colours and themes.
* Keep it classy by avoiding cluttering every surface in your home with various decorations, baubles … keep it calm!
* Instead focus on a few key places such as on entry doors, outdoor balconies and mantles or create an impact with one large signature either artificial or a fresh tree, beautifully decorated.
Source: Sydney School of Protocol
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