DEAR MISS MANNERS: It has happened again. Once more, my wife and I attended a lovely catered party in a reception facility, where the company was interesting and the hosts gracious and welcoming -- and the "background" music was so loud that all the guests had to shout to be heard.

In this case, it was simply one guitarist/singer, but his amplification and the acoustics of the hall made it impossible to carry on any sort of normal conversation while he was playing. I am certainly not alone in this complaint, as several others at this otherwise pleasant affair also mentioned the unpleasantly excessive level of the music.

I should stress that I am not an old fogey, and I do like music of a considerable volume to dance to, but when there is no dancing, why can't guests appreciate one another's company without bellowing?

It is our experience that many, if not most, hosts seem oblivious to the fact that the musician they hired is making it difficult for people to enjoy themselves. This seems to be especially the case at wedding receptions, when the music is at "dancing level" during dinner.

Is there any polite way to ask a host or hostess to have the volume lowered? I have long ago given up asking musicians to tone it down; they simply ignore the request as an outrageous intrusion on their craft.

GENTLE READER: "Background music" is something Miss Manners has never understood. If it is good enough to listen to, it should not have to compete with conversation. If it is not good enough to listen to, it should not be played.

As for amplification, the problem is only going to get worse as the level deafens people who will then require even higher volumes.

But no, you really cannot tell your hosts that you are not enjoying their party. At most, you and someone with whom you want to talk can ask the hosts if there is someplace quieter where you can do so.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do you deal with a daughter-in-law who tries to take over in your kitchen? The holidays are here, and I'm dreading her getting in my way.

GENTLE READER: The most important thing is to refrain from mentioning the problem to relatives who scrupulously avoid getting in your way by settling themselves into comfortable chairs while you clean up.

For that matter, it would be better not to mention it to the offending daughter-in-law, either. Rather, you should beg her assistance in such out-of-the-kitchen tasks as setting the table, collecting the Christmas wrappings for the trash, and the most important task of all, which Miss Manners' own dear father described as "Go see what the children are doing and tell them to stop."

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it considered bad manners to scrape one's teeth on the fork when eating?

GENTLE READER: Yes, and it provokes other bad manners -- a chorus of "Eeeewww, stop!"

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am inundated with holiday season requests from friends and colleagues to make charitable donations to one cause or another. I read the stories associated with each of these causes, and they all appear to be fine organizations worthy of support.

However, I have my own special foundation (it supports cures for a physical disability I have) that is also quite worthy of support. My charitable giving budget, such as it is, is consumed between donations to this group along with the universities that I attended.

I would not dream of asking friends to make donations to support my cause and somewhat resent that they ask me to support theirs. However, I know they mean well and am wondering how I can respond to them with a nice, but firm "No, thanks." Up to now, my typical response has been no response, which doesn't seem appropriate.

GENTLE READER: Written solicitations need be answered only by those who want to comply with the requests for money, and Miss Manners presumes that you are not silent when friends approach you face to face.

It is the latter situation that is awkward, and intentionally so. Friends figure that you will be embarrassed to turn them down; that is why they ask. That you are philanthropic without using such tactics is as rare as it is commendable.

Your response should be, "These are certainly worthy causes, but my charity budget is committed elsewhere." Should anyone be so rude as to argue, Miss Manners gives you leave to say, "Why, are you interested in contributing to my causes?"

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I recently hired a cleaning lady to do some basic cleaning around my condo. She comes biweekly and has visited four or five times so far. I have probably seen her face to face for about 30 minutes total; she visits while I'm at work.

When I got home after her last visit, I was surprised to find a holiday card with a $25 restaurant gift card on my counter wishing me happy holidays. While I very much appreciate the sentiment and gesture, I find myself very uncomfortable.

I moved to this country 10 years ago and am not Christian, so buying gifts for people, let alone for people I hardly know, is not part of my cultural makeup. Besides this, I have fairly strong feelings about consumerism, etc., which I will not belabor.

Must I bite the bullet and get her a gift, potentially setting up an annual cycle as long as I employ her, or is there any other way to delicately nip this in the bud?

GENTLE READER: Putting the religious and pseudo-social aspects aside, there is still a reason to respond. It is, in fact, a reason that would prevail even if your employee had not left you a gift card (which is not customary from an employee, and which Miss Manners therefore cannot help interpreting as a hint).

That is to give her a year-end bonus. This is customary for domestic employees, and usually consists of an extra week's pay. It need not be related to religion, and it does not carry the pretense of friendship.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In one of the variants of the tiresome "Secret Santa" office gift-giving games, wherein each person ends up with an anonymous gift, I found myself holding a gift card for a well-known store specializing in risque lingerie.

As a middle-aged man in a monogamous relationship with another man, I found this, well, perfectly useless. I discreetly re-donated it to a young lady in the office whom I happened to know would be happy to use it.

Sure enough, this became generally known in the office gossip pool, and my motivations and reasons for donating it became the subject of unflattering and derisive speculation.

What should I have done? Just thrown the thing in the trash (discreetly, of course)? And what about the etiquette of selecting such a "gift" in the first place?

GENTLE READER: What about the whole silly idea? Does someone in your workplace really believe that it encourages camaraderie to play childish games that can so easily misfire?

This instance sounds close enough to harassment to be shown to management as an example of why Secret Santa does not belong in the office.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Every year for the past 15 to 20 years, I've had three different folks constantly sending me Christmas cards with their family photos or their children on the cover.

I am sick and tired of receiving these. I never respond to them, but they still keep sending them. If a person does not send a card back, isn't the polite thing to do to cease from continuing to send these cards? I haven't seen or spoken to these people either (all this time!).

I think they're rude and just harassing me. What should I do? Please reply. I just can't tolerate it anymore! Thanks a million!

GENTLE READER: And thank you for putting into perspective what can make life intolerable. This being the time of year to focus on those less fortunate than oneself, Miss Manners trusts that you are commiserating with those who receive even more pictures of happy families.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I don't see my sister-in-law on Christmas Eve or Christmas, so I give her the gift between the 19th and 23rd of December, but she doesn't open it till Christmas.

I thought she should open the gift when given -- so I can see the expression on her face when she opens it. Am I wrong?

GENTLE READER: Waiting until Christmas (or Christmas Eve) to open presents is a lesson widely taught to children. It fosters the excitement of anticipation, creates a ceremony out of opening them, and, yes, enables the parents to see their faces light up.

But that can be counted upon only if the parents have also taught the children how to react to presents. The natural reaction, even to something that does cause delight, is to become engrossed in it, ignoring the donor.

Presumably your sister-in-law still enjoys the anticipation and ceremony, and Miss Manners has no quarrel with that. It is also possible that she is not good at facially projecting appreciation -- or if, for example, she already has whatever it is that you are giving her, disappointment. You should be satisfied -- gratified -- to receive her gratitude by mail.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)