Father Christmas Letters: 1926 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-14-2011, 06:21 AM

The 1926 letter includes the picture that has become rather iconic - it is the cover illustration for some editions of the Father Christmas Letters - including the translation that Legate has*, and from which his Christmas avatar picture is taken.

I wonder which came first - the picture or the story? Tolkien being a man of words, I assume the latter, but they are so closely linked that it's hard to say. Those of you who don't have the book can almost tell the story from the illustration.

The North Polar Bear is the mischief-maker again, though not intentionally so. He causes an explosion of the "Rory Bory Aylis" fireworks (what a fun childlike word play for aurora borealis!), turning the North Pole black and causing havoc among the reindeer. The possibility that chocolate intended for England was thereby damaged makes me think that there may have been some actual reason for that fiction. Other than that, there is no mention of the children's presents in this letter.

Tolkien must have used a plain white envelope for this letter - the NPB mentions that the Snow Man is addressing them, and he writes in white...

*...and the German translation as well.

12-14-2011, 06:21 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Father Christmas Letters: 1926 The 1926 letter includes the picture that has become rather iconic - it is the cover illustration for some editions of the Father Christmas Letters - including the translation that Legate has, and from which his Christmas avatar picture is taken. I wonder which came first - the picture or the story? Tolkien being a man of words, I assume the latter, but they are so closely linked that it's hard to say. Those of you who don't have the book can almost tell the story from the illustration. The North Polar Bear is the mischief-maker again, though not intentionally so. He causes an explosion of the "Rory Bory Aylis" fireworks (what a fun childlike word play for aurora borealis!), turning the North Pole black and causing havoc among the reindeer. The possibility that chocolate intended for England was thereby damaged makes me think that there may have been some actual reason for that fiction. Other than that, there is no mention of the children's presents in this letter. Tolkien must have used a plain white envelope for this letter - the NPB mentions that the Snow Man is addressing them, and he writes in white... ...and the German translation as well. __________________ '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...' Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 12-14-2011 at 06:26 AM.