Interesting question,
Elempi! I was thinking that they look like snow stalagmites, but they are not under the eaves of the house, so how would they have been formed? And they're not trees (which was another first thought of mine) because the trees that are shown are not snow-covered. Actually, I wonder - why not?! You'd think anything at the North Pole would be covered by snow and/or ice. Some kind of standing stones? More new questions than answers...
Lal, I think you're on the right track concerning the age - there is a slight discrepancy between the historical year 0 and the actual date of Christ's birth. And Father Christmas would come into existence with the birth of Jesus, I guess - at least Tolkien imagined it to be so.
However, there's an inconsistency between that date and the name with which FC signs - the only time, as far as I have seen at least: "Father Nicholas Christmas". That would point to St. Nicholas (who morphed into Santa Claus), born much later than Jesus.
One thing I enjoyed about the second letter was JRRT's little pun:
Quote:
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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...)
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