Celebrating Jane: Tempting Tea Parties for Non-Janeites

I wasn’t born into a family of fiction readers.

My immediate and extended relations might skim articles about current news & events or flip through some nonfiction bestsellers with mild interest, but they’ve always been more inclined toward the math and science fields rather than  whimsical worlds or imaginary characters. Admittedly, I’d been drawn to STEM subjects as well when I was younger. (Until I shocked the entire family by changing my major from biochemistry to education and, eventually, becoming a novelist…but that’s a story for another time. 😛 )

Point is, in addition to my longstanding love of genetics, physics, and the great micro & macro mysteries of the universe, I’ve always been a bookworm, too, and my attachment to literature seems woven into my DNA just as surely as my dark hair and hazel eyes. Given my parents’ general indifference to fiction, this trait probably skipped a generation or two somewhere along the line, LOL, but it’s been a constant in my life. Libraries and bookstores have always been my happy place, and fellow readers are definitely my people. Those of you online here likely share this passion. And like many of you, once I read Austen, she immediately became my all-time favorite author. The spark for my debut novel, According to Jane, came from having read and loved P&P as a teen, and many of my novels over the past two decades have been deeply inspired by Austen and her writing. (I have a list of them by category HERE.)

So, I can’t help but be a massive book pusher when it comes to Jane. Over the years, I’ve successfully introduced several friends to JA’s stories, hooked them on movies based on her novels, pointed out JAFF that they might enjoy, and fanned the flames of their curiosity about Regency life and all the ways human nature hasn’t changed, even if the clothing styles have… My husband, a retired English and history teacher, had read P&P on his own — for fun!! — before we’d even met (and yes, that definitely contributed to my having fallen in love with him). He’s been a JA fan for decades. And my friends — online and in person — are either already knowledgeable about Jane or growing in their fascination with her work. But my chemist father? My business-minded mother? My statistical research analyst brother? Not to mention the aunts, uncles, and cousins, oh my! They all remained stubbornly uninterested in Austen and her world. Clearly, I had to do something.

Because I knew my family well, I knew that “something” was going to have to involve food. About four years ago, I decided I’d begin hosting an annual Jane Austen Luncheon/Tea Party for my relatives. Initially, I modeled it after the traditional English afternoon tea served at the Pump Room in Bath. My husband and I had the pleasure of celebrating our wedding anniversary there some years back. The two of us and our son loved every delicious morsel. (Side note: I wrote about that visit on this page here — scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to find the post “London Calling.”) I was taken with the idea of trying to replicate something similar for other family members, at least in spirit…with tri-level platters of savory finger sandwiches that my brother (a notoriously picky eater) might tolerate…with buttery scones served alongside jam & cream that had a chance of enticing my mom, who’s significantly better at baking than I am…and with desserts plentiful enough to delight my dad and his lifelong sweet tooth.

Stunningly, this worked! During our very first JA Tea Party, my relatives were, at long last, expressing some interest in Jane!! Held captive at the table and facing so many unfamiliar luncheon items (several of which were recipes I’d found in various Austen-esque cookbooks), they began asking tentative questions. My brother, a dedicated athlete who follows a strict diet, wondered if Regency people typically ate so many fat grams at their meals and indulged regularly in sweets. My mom wanted me to text her several of the recipes (“What was in that chicken salad?”), and she asked questions about Bath, the Pump Room, and what Jane’s life was like when she lived there.  My dad was merely curious about whether Jane loved chocolate as much as he did. 😉

But, hey, it was a start, right?! And seriously, every year since then we’ve had even livelier discussions. Because it’s difficult for my parents to travel, we hold the party at their house. I’ve brought in props to decorate and to share with them — it’s like an Austen show & tell — which has opened up more questions and conversation. This year, I got my Mom and Dad P&P ornaments to hang up for Christmas. I always wear my JA scarf/t-shirt/socks/earrings. And since this event has become etched into our family as a tradition now, my parents and my brother have come to expect it, look forward to it, and accept it as the holiday it should be.

All of my immediate relatives actually know at least 2 key dates: Jane’s December 16th birthday and Pride and Prejudice‘s original January 28th release. They also know that somewhere between those two important days our family is going to get together to honor her.

But Valentine’s Day is coming up! If we hadn’t celebrated so recently, I’d be inclined to do it again next week, just for the fun of it. Perhaps an Austen-themed tea party could be a lighthearted and tasty way to gather with your “Galentines” or romantic partners? With your children, grandkids, neighbors, or work colleagues? Who do you know who’s in desperate need of a little Jane in their lives?

This December will be my family’s 5th Annual Austen Tea Party and, of course, I’d like it to be an extra-special celebration since it’s her 250th birthday! Do you have any suggestions — for games, recipes, or anything that might heighten interest in Austen for non-Janeites? I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and would love to hear yours!!

Have a wonderful week, a joyful Valentine’s, and a year filled with Austen-inspired fun! 😀  xox