Virago Secret Santa 2018

Welcome to the 11th Annual Virago Secret Santa Extravaganza! ✨

It's time to get start getting ready for that 'most wonderful time of the year' again! 🌲 🎁 🌲

Sign up between now and October 28 by leaving a message with your mailing address on either Jane's profile (BeyondEdenRock) or Karen's profile (kaggsy).

After that, the Virago Elves will work their magic. You will receive a private message fron one giving you a number, and a new thread will appear in the group putting names to the numbers so you can find out who you will be sending your gift.

Please remember that only the Virago Elves and your Santa will know your address. Also, please do indicate your shipping preferences (will ship anywhere, can only ship within your home country/continent, etc.)

Please try to get everything off in time for the opening season between December 19 and 31.

There are some more details in the next post down, and please ask an Elf – or ask this thread – if you have any questions.

Old hands and newcomers will all be warmly welcomed!

Here are a few more details about just how this works:

- In the Virago Secret Santa, you send directly to the recipient. The Virago Elves have a tried and tested process that randomly matches people, and can take into account shipping preference, but if there is a problem - or if anyone draws themselves - we can arrange a swap so that everyone is happy

- You can shop for gifts and pack them up yourself, or you can use a bookseller that will ship direct. Amazon, The Book Depository, Persephone books and Honno Books will all do that, and I am sure there are others.

- We don't have a hard and fast guideline on how much to spend. $25-$30 was mentioned once, the cost of a couple of new books was mentioned another time, but the only thing we ask is you shop thoughtfully.

- You don't have to send Viragos, you can send anything you think the recipient might like. Look at their library here, look at links to other sites where they are active, and there will be a 'Letters to Santa' thread after everyone is matched up, so you can see what your recipient might like and you can guide your own Santa a little.

- We will have a thread for reporting arrivals of packages to enjoy anticipation and to reassure you that the gift you sent has arrived, and a thread where we can all share in the excitement of each opening.

- This is fun! Some of us have been here for each and every Virago Secret Santa! And there will always be someone ready to help out!

To see the threads from previous years, check out our Wiki.

Thanks for once again setting this up, Jane, and I am happy to be Second Elf! The VSS as we know it is such fun! 😁

Oh I'm so happy to see this thread! I was unable to participate last year due to real life demands, but now I'm back!

It's lovely to have you back, Laura!

>4 lauralkeet: Hurrah!

By the way ...

This is the tenth eleventh annual Virago Secret Santa!

>7 lauralkeet: This thing started in 2008, so this is definitely our 11th celebration.

oops. I knew it started then and did the math wrong! Original post corrected!!

Yay. Messaging now.

Hooray! I'm in!

>10 Heaven-Ali: >11 LyzzyBee: Hurrah! Good news ladies!

Oh my goodness, I had forgotten it was this time of year, how exciting! Definitely in - off to sign up now..

Yay! I'm in!

Count me in too! 🎁📚🍏🌲

Back in this year :)

Greetings from Virago Elf HQ!

Thank you to everyone who has asked to be part of this lovely celebration. We have old friends and new names, and we have added all of your details to our master list.

Today is the last day for sign-ups, so if you've been meaning to join and haven't quite got to it yet now is the time.

There's no need to panic though, because until the thread with the list of numbers is posted we should be able to squeeze in anybody who asks.

There's a new thread for with recipient numbers and there's a new thread for Letters to Santa very soon, so I think we can say that this thing is officially underway!