HUMBOLDT 鈥� The premise of wine fairies, or ninjas, is a woman presenting another woman with a gift 鈥� typically containing alcohol 鈥� and not being caught in the act.
Several wine fairy groups have started up over Facebook in the past month, with threads focused on different locations.
To take part, women post their addresses on the appropriate post thread, a stranger reads it, and then drops off a gift at the address.
For Saskatchewan Wine Ninjas, a provincial Facebook group started by Jennifer Zanidean, the thread is a photo of the corresponding town sign that people comment on, located in the photo albums of the group.
鈥淪omebody just randomly picks you, and you can randomly pick someone else,鈥� said Nicki Beckett, one of the group鈥檚 seven admins. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to stay in your specific album either, if you鈥檙e from Saskatoon and you want to ninja someone in Moose Jaw, because you鈥檙e going to be there, you can ninja them there.鈥�
Once ninja鈥檈d, the gift recipient is instructed to remove their address on the photo, and wait two weeks to a month before reposting.
Typically, the recipient then gives a gift to someone else鈥檚 commented address, paying it forward.
鈥淚f the ladies can pay it forward, it鈥檚 all dependent on your budget. It鈥檚 not a strict, strict rule, we understand it鈥檚 hard times. If you can鈥檛 pay it forward immediately, like even if it鈥檚 a month down the road that would be great.鈥�
Beckett said the purpose of this activity is to bring happiness and brighten someone鈥檚 day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just something to get in on while social distancing. We鈥檝e seen families get in on it鈥� mothers and daughters, children are going out together and they get really excited about being able to go out and do it.鈥�
Shaneya Roberts, a Humboldt resident and group participant, said she was first attracted to wine ninja鈥檌ng by Beckett, who invited her to the group.
鈥淚t's so nice to be part of something especially now being isolated and not being able to visit friends and family,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淲ho doesn't like a little bit of alcohol beverage now and then?鈥�
Roberts said that she is in the process of putting together her own ninja package to give to someone.
鈥淛ust thinking now that I'm a mom, and what I would appreciate getting as a mother...?鈥� she asked.
鈥淪o, face masks to help have a 鈥榤e time鈥� evening, some chocolates, bubble bath for a nice hot bath and a nice glass of wine. Sounds like a perfect evening for any mother that needs an evening to herself.鈥�
The gifts typically contain some form of alcohol, but can also include other items. There is no set price range.
鈥淭hings from the dollar store, notepads, they can be anything really,鈥� Beckett said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen candles, we鈥檝e seen pregnancy tests as a joke. We鈥檝e seen almost everything so far.鈥�
For non-alcohol drinkers, Beckett advised stating that you include that you do not drink alcohol beside your address.
While wine ninja鈥檌ng has its fair share of participants, with over 39,000 members and in the Saskatchewan group alone, according to the Saskatoon RCMP detachment, it also has its risks.
鈥淲e understand the general sentiment and intent of the social media group, but as a police service, we strongly urge you to proceed with caution,鈥� the Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement on social media.
鈥淭he groups, while they may be private, are large in numbers and encourage you to post your home address in the hopes of you receiving gifts. Many continue to include further details about their family鈥檚 members [including kids] and other personal details.鈥�
The RCMP went on to ask people who use these groups to use common sense and think about the dangers associated with posting their home address online.
Beckett said they鈥檝e received several questions around the privacy of what's posted. As a result they keep a screenshot of the RCMP statement under their page鈥檚 announcements.
鈥淚t brought negative feedback, which is totally understandable,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t isn鈥檛 for everyone but it also took a lot off our shoulders because we also don鈥檛 have to answer very many questions anymore about the privacy and stuff. You are posting at your own discretion.鈥�
