Father Christmas Letters: 1931 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-21-2011, 02:44 PM

This is the longest letter so far! Three pictures are included, the first one a portrait of Father Christmas that graces the cover of the old FCL books. (The stamps are not part of the 1931 drawing.)

The first letter is dated October 31st and again acknowledges the children's letters to FC. The main letter is dated December 23rd and is two pages long. The presents are announced (mostly for Railways) but there is a warning that not everything that was wished for is included. The reason for this is that there are so many poor and starving people - do you think it refers to the Great Depression, which was around that time? Was England affected as much as the USA was?

There is a reference to FC's "Green Brother" again - does anyone have an idea to whom JRRT is referring?

This year's accident involves the North Polar Bear, though it is not directly caused by him - the Snowboys are responsible for an explosion of fireworks. The top of Tolkien's two part drawing shows that:

Two of the NPB's nephews have stayed, and they are named Paksu and Valkotukka, Finnish for 'fat' and 'white-hair'.

The most unusual part of this Christmas letter is a drawing "by" the NPB Karhu. It has a very distinctive style, involving lines and dashes - a bit like Tolkien's drawing of the Troll scene in the Hobbit.

(The spotty background of this image is not part of Tolkien's drawing.)

How do you like the 1931 letter/s? I'm glad the book reproduces the original pages, as the calligraphy is beautiful, all in red and green ink.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 12-22-2011, 12:54 PM

I remember when I had been reading this the first time, I really liked the introduction of the characters of the small polar bears (I really love the idea of "making night" by throwing the black ink into the fire!).

It also occured to me here - and I am surprised that I haven't thought of it earlier - don't you think Tolkien was really obsessed with fireworks? I mean, from Gandalf, and through all this stuff in FC, I am wondering, why are fireworks such an important theme in all his books? I think the frequency really points to some firework-obsession

Not that it would be anything bad.

But perhaps somebody knows more about it? (Like, if he had ever said that he loves fireworks, or something?)

12-21-2011, 02:44 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,535	Father Christmas Letters: 1931 This is the longest letter so far! Three pictures are included, the first one a portrait of Father Christmas that graces the cover of the old FCL books. (The stamps are not part of the 1931 drawing.) The first letter is dated October 31st and again acknowledges the children's letters to FC. The main letter is dated December 23rd and is two pages long. The presents are announced (mostly for Railways) but there is a warning that not everything that was wished for is included. The reason for this is that there are so many poor and starving people - do you think it refers to the Great Depression, which was around that time? Was England affected as much as the USA was? There is a reference to FC's "Green Brother" again - does anyone have an idea to whom JRRT is referring? This year's accident involves the North Polar Bear, though it is not directly caused by him - the Snowboys are responsible for an explosion of fireworks. The top of Tolkien's two part drawing shows that: Two of the NPB's nephews have stayed, and they are named Paksu and Valkotukka, Finnish for 'fat' and 'white-hair'. The most unusual part of this Christmas letter is a drawing "by" the NPB Karhu. It has a very distinctive style, involving lines and dashes - a bit like Tolkien's drawing of the Troll scene in the Hobbit. (The spotty background of this image is not part of Tolkien's drawing.) How do you like the 1931 letter/s? I'm glad the book reproduces the original pages, as the calligraphy is beautiful, all in red and green ink. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

12-22-2011, 12:54 PM	#2
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,506	I remember when I had been reading this the first time, I really liked the introduction of the characters of the small polar bears (I really love the idea of "making night" by throwing the black ink into the fire!). It also occured to me here - and I am surprised that I haven't thought of it earlier - don't you think Tolkien was really obsessed with fireworks? I mean, from Gandalf, and through all this stuff in FC, I am wondering, why are fireworks such an important theme in all his books? I think the frequency really points to some firework-obsession Not that it would be anything bad. But perhaps somebody knows more about it? (Like, if he had ever said that he loves fireworks, or something?) __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories