As great as the holidays are, they can be pretty dreadful for many, especially when it comes to family gatherings. Being surrounded by relatives whom you only see during the season calls for major awkward silence and obviously unfortunate talks about uncomfortable topics.

The holidays are inevitable, but with these etiquette tips, you will be the classiest one at Thanksgiving dinner.

• Use your manners

You should know this one already-the basic etiquette that is so simple, yet so difficult for most people nowadays.

• Say please and thanks when appropriate.
• Help out. (set the table, clean up, etc.)

2)  Ignore as much judgement as you possibly can

Everyone knows what these gatherings are really about: judgement.

• Do not listen to what your grandma and annoying aunt says, they barely even know you.
• Try not to be so obvious about not wanting to participate in some family activities.

3) Participate

This is probably the only hard one on the entire list. Constantly being bothered to take a family photo and help pass things around can get pretty annoying.

• Just agree to photos, they are actually kind of cool if you think about it.
• If any proposals are made for some weird family game, just go with it.

4) Communicate

• Put your phone away. (why would you want to be on it now besides taking photos?)
• Talk to everyone. (try not to ignore that one uncle you avoid every year.)

5) Plan

Along with the uncomfortable conversations previously mentioned, it may be useful to plan some answers.

• School- pick a college and major that you are somewhat interested in, even if you are still undecided, just so it seems like you remotely have your life together.
• Relationships- this one will be difficult- it is basically picking the lesser of two evils. You could say you are dating, which would spark interest from literally everyone, or you could say that you are single, bringing even more critique from grandma-and trust me, no one wants that.