The year is 2013. The days of multicourse meals and etiquette classes have long passed, and the dining room is reserved solely for holidays and visits from grandparents. The point? No one blames you for using the wrong bread plate by mistake.

With that said, our illiteracy to traditional dining makes special occasions all the more special. This holiday? Make place cards, fold napkins, and adhere to the old-world ways of setting the table. Here, an easy guide to keep in mind.

Hint: Remember that the placement of almost everything – including flatware and glasses – should match the order of the courses. For instance, if you’re serving salad first, place the salad fork to the left of the dinner fork, and vice versa.

Our Stock the Flatware Drawer: From Formal to Casual Boutique opens Friday, November 1, at 11AM ET.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer