All about Christmas gift etiquette

They say Christmas is a time for giving, but what you also need to bear in mind is your response on receiving these generous gifts from friends and family.%VIRTUAL-ArticleSidebar-Christmas%

This is such a popular topic at this time of year that not just one but three Christmas adverts revolve around the importance of showing your gratitude at Christmas. Whether it's Jeff Goldblum teaching us how to perfect our happy faces for Currys or Harvey Nichols encouraging us to avoid 'gift face' there's definitely an emphasis on gratitude this year.

Two thirds of us will receive gifts that we don't want or like this Christmas, resulting in a total of £2.3 billion worth of wasted presents.

To navigate these awkward situations, etiquette expert Emma Dupont has created the ultimate festive 'how to' guide, demonstrated by former Britain's Got Talent contestant, impersonator Francine Lewis.

So, take a look at these top tips to avoid getting caught out this Christmas:

1. Take a peek at the gift and even if it's something that you don't really want, quicken the speed with which you open it and that gives the impression that you're really excited.

2. Say the name of the gift once you know what it is and then give the giver a hug.

3. Use words and phrases like 'wow', 'brilliant' and 'just what I always wanted'.

4. If you're worried that your facial expression might give you away the divert your attention to someone else in the room.

5. Sometimes when we open a gift we might not know what it is right away, but you can stall for time by saying things like 'this looks really interesting'.

You may be genuinely disappointed with the present that you've received but try to see past it and be grateful for the sentiment behind it!