ZMACS: JAN: Pemberley Holiday/ New Year's Mail

It's time for the second annual ZMACS Literary Winter Holiday Greetings swap. This year, by popular demand (thanks, sabbysteg!), our swap will feature the characters of Pride and Prejudice (the Jane Austen version, of course). As always, any winter holiday and the celebration of the new year is fair game, so be creative and explore the possibilities!

Mr. Darcy, finally beginning to unpack the systemic prejudice inherent in the baronial system thanks to his participation in social justice talking circles, explores the meaning of economic investment in the community (Ujamaa) as part of his first Kwanzaa. Kitty, still at home, takes pride in her unmarried status on St. Lucia's Day, distributing saffron buns to Mrs. Bennet (who remains in bed) while wearing a crown of candles on her head. Elizabeth wishes Mr.Collins a Happy Hanukkah, and best wishes in his rabbinical candidacy, hoping that his wisdom has grown in the years since he entered the yeshiva. Charlotte Collins replies by sharing her Festivus Airing of Grievances with her childhood friend. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, unchanged, plans to brag and offer unsolicited advice in her annual New Year's card. Lydia offers a heartfelt Merry Christmas to all, having entered a convent and become a very lighthearted and somewhat unpredictable sister (How do you solve a problem like Lydia?). Georgiana Darcy has been traveling in Southeast Asia and sends a postcard outlining her plans to celebrate the Year of the Rooster in style. She has just attended the Rajasthan Camel Fair with Mary Bennet, who has sent a rather tedious Ode to the Dromedary to her family via pigeon post. The Gardiners are also traveling to a selection of local bed and breakfasts for some trout fishing and holiday merriment, and include a string of fish in their cheerful letters. The Bingleys are generously printing up books of carols and brewing up huge batches of wassail to distribute on the winter solstice. And Wickham and Miss Bingley are collecting "charitable" contributions for Boxing Day ...

One form of holiday greeting (card, holiday letter, postcard, pop-up greeting, self-mailer, banner, decorated envelope with minizine enclosure, invitation to a soiree, or other rather flattish piece of mail) to one partner.

Recipients, please be open to receiving any sort of holiday greeting, in the spirit of fun and community :) I will of course attempt to weed out the Wickhams, and Bingley all unsent swaps. Senders, please feel free to be as ridiculous or sincere as you like, Pride and Prejudice seems to encourage an appreciation for creative heights of silliness and courage in its readers. Have fun, and Happy 2017 to all!