Concerning the "green brother of Father Christmas" : I have just recently read quite a bit in the internet about St. Nicholas and Father Christmas. (I had complained in Facebook that our "Samichlaus" was beeing replaced by an American SantaClaus, and
Mithalwen then said, that Father Christmas was originally dressed in green. This spurred my interest)
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Wikipedia
In past centuries, the English Father Christmas was also known as Old Father Christmas, Sir Christmas, and Lord Christmas. Father Christmas is said to wear (these days) a bright red suit, but in Victorian and Tudor times he wore a bright green suit.
Father Christmas typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, but was neither a gift bringer nor particularly associated with children.[citation needed] A traditional figure in English folklore, Father Christmas is identified with the old belief in the Old English god Woden.
In the English-speaking world, the character called "Father Christmas" influenced the development in the United States of Santa Claus, and in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, most people now consider them to be interchangeable. However, although "Father Christmas" and "Santa Claus" have for most practical purposes been merged, historically the characters have different origins and are not identical.
Some authors such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien,have insisted on the traditional form of Father Christmas in preference to Santa Claus.
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See also
Father Christmas green or red?
and
The English Father Christmas, a separate origin
Of course Tolkien was aware of all this! When first reading the F.C. letters I had briefly wondered about the green brother too, but forgot to investigate.
Perhaps the Tolkien children had been affected by whooping cough too...
And I would have loved to see what they had written in their letters to Father Christmas!