With December in full swing and Christmas fast approaching, I thought what better time to write a little light piece about Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas?
For those who may not know, Tolkien wrote letters to his children as if he were Father Christmas (or one of the several cast of characters he invented over the course of writing the letters) in response to letters his children wrote to Father Christmas. He did this for 23 years, with the first letter to his eldest son, John, in 1920. The final letter, a quite poignant one, was in 1943 to Priscilla, his youngest and only daughter.
If you read other material on these letters, you’ll hear much of the same. The cast of characters expanded as the years went on (like Ilbereth, North Polar Bear…), you can see him testing out elements for Middle Earth, real world influences (like the war)…and, of course, as the Prancing Pony Podcast is fond of saying, the letters can make you feel like an inadequate parent. Perhaps I’m lucky on this front. Since I don’t have children yet, I have the chance to implement something like this as early as I wish when I do have children. Maybe. It’s a lot!
There were two letters in particular that stood out to me, both later ones addressed to Priscilla.
One contained a phenomenal poem, complete with interjections from other characters. This poem is helping convince me that delving deep into Tolkien’s poetry would be a good niche for me. I tell you – this one had me captivated the first time I read it, and no less the second time around.
Here are a few lines, just to give you a taste:
“At twelve, or later,
he will arrive – and hopes once more
that he has chosen from his store
I did it.
the things you want. You’re half past nine;
She is not a clock!“
I don’t know what it is, but the letters that touched me the most were the ones he wrote to Priscilla. Perhaps it is because I am the youngest and the only girl? Admittedly, I don’t have 3 older brothers, just the one, but still… It does sound like I’d have been quite similar to her in the sense of the last recorded gift: “I am sending you some nice bright clean money […] You might find it useful to buy a book with that you really want.”
I usually get a book for Christmas – though it’s a book from my carefully curated list, since once I had someone gift me a book I had already read and I felt terrible about it.
But I digress.
Reader, Letters from Father Christmas was a joy to read. You’ll smile. You’ll laugh (just wait for those interjections from other characters). You may also tear up: “I suppose you will be hanging up your stocking just once more […] After this I hall have to say “goodbye”, more or less: I mean, I shall not forget you.”
It is full of wonderfully written letters from an incredible cast of characters. The letters contain so much detail and wonder — just try researching the gifts Tolkien gave to his children! There are also astonishing drawings…you will be left speechless, I’m sure.
I highly encourage you to get a copy of Letters from Father Christmas and read them – whether you have children or not. They do make it so clear that Tolkien loved his children, and if you’re anything like me, they’ll make you want to spend time with your loved ones.
If you have already read this book, I’d love to know: do you have a favourite letter? A favourite character? Any other thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Until next year!
Leave a Reply