No gifts, please.

Gifts are not usually discussed in Jane Austen’s books. Fanny Price does receive a lot of hand me downs in Mansfield Park, and a gift of a necklace from Edmund for her ball. In the Emma Thompson version of Sense and Sensibility, Elinor gives going away presents to the servants when her family is forced out of their home due to inheritance laws in England at the time. Also, in the new version of Emma, she brings a Christmas present to a sick Harriet. But the practice of gift giving is not really mentioned in her novels.

I don’t like to talk about the topic either, since I find it difficult to ask for stuff. However, as I mentioned a couple posts ago, starting this fall I will be attending school full time and money will be tight. Plus, I don’t really need any more stuff or clutter, especially if I end up moving again for graduate school. So for any upcoming holidays, I am requesting that we all give hugs for gifts. Hugs are great gifts. If you insist on being generous, then practical gift cards (groceries, gas, etc) are the only thing I want. This may be difficult for those of my friends who like to buy stuff, but this way y’all can save money or donate it to charity. One that I approve of, of course.