Episode 15: Holiday Tables And Hidden Rules

Gatherings are cultural scripts in action. Who arrives on time, who arrives late, what we wear, how we greet one another, and whether we show up with a gift all carry meaning far beyond the moment.

In this holiday-season episode, Andrea and Hostion explore how different cultures approach gatherings, drawing on lived experiences across Canada, China, Europe, the US, and beyond. They talk about mono-chronic and polychronic time, the social language of clothing, physical greetings, relationship-based versus task-based gatherings, and the quiet misunderstandings that happen when cultures meet.

This episode is an invitation to gather with more grace, humour, and curiosity and to remember that most missteps aren’t disrespect, just different scripts.

Episode Sources

Intercultural Communication - Northern Virginia Community College
The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time - Fixquotes
Cultural Characteristics: Intercultural Business Communication - Open Library
Cultural Etiquette Around the World - Magellan Blog
International Business Etiquette From Around the World - Business.com
How Greetings Differ Across Cultures - Global Sprouts
Social Norms in Sociology - Simply Psychology
Communicating with Culturally Diverse Parents of Exceptional Children - Eric Digest
Introduction to Anthropology - OpenStax

Quiz Sources
Annual vacations and general holidays for employees working for federally regulated employers - Government of Canada
Top 2025 Canadian Events - Carnival Warehouse