I think that they're letters written by Tolkien pretending to be Father Christmas. I believe that they were addressed to his children and they are collected in a book. However all I know comes from a brief conversation with friends who write up a letter on the blackboard every Christmas Eve for their kids. So I really don't know anything.
This is what I found: The stories are told in the format of a series of letters, told either from the point of view of Father Christmas or his elvish secretary. They documented the adventures and misadventures of Father Christmas and his helpers, including the North Polar Bear and his two sidekick cubs, Paksu and Valkotukka. The stories include descriptions of the massive fireworks that create the northern lights and how Polar Bear manages to get into trouble on more than one occasion.
The 1939 letter has Father Christmas making reference to the Second World War,[1] while some of the later letters featured Father Christmas' battles against Goblins which were subsequently interpreted as being a reflection of Tolkien's views on the German Menace. Thanks Wikipedia...
Here is a copy of one of these letters. I think from this simple note you can see the love Tolkien had for his children. Myself ... I am large and hairy enough that I am often mistaken for the big guy. It is one of the great joys in my life to be acosted by children who think I am Santa ... a role I love.
North Pole Christmas Eve 1923
My dear John, It is very cold today and my hand is very shaky - I am nineteen hundred and twenty four, no! seven! years old on Christmas Day, - lots older than your great-grandfather, so I can't stop the pen wobbling, but I hear that you are getting so good at reading that I expect you will be able to read my letter.
I send you lots of love (and lots for Michael too) and Lotts Bricks too (which are called that because there are lots more for you to have next year if you let me know in good time). I think they are prettier and stronger and tidier than Picabrix. So I hope you will like them.
Now I must go; it is a lovely fine night and I have got hundreds of miles to go before morning - there is such a lot to do.
A cold kiss from Father Nicholas Christmas
So here is a question ... what were the Tolkien's children's names ands how many years did he write these letters?
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Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit Called or uncalled, God is present
All, As my friend Anorlas points out "The Father Christmas Letters" covered at least 23 years. In that time Tolkien added other characters to this wonderful Christmas fantasy world ...
Name two, who they were, and what role did they play in the story?
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Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit Called or uncalled, God is present
Two characters that Father Christmas mentioned were a coupld of polar bear cubs, Paksu and Valkotukka they were the side kicks to the North Polar Bear.
Anorlas, Very good! You seem to have a good grasp on this.
How about coming up with a comment or ask a question? (like ... did Father Christmas have any elves? Or did Father Christmas have any enemies? Or any allies? ... that kind of stuff.)
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Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit Called or uncalled, God is present
