Man behind the Mythology - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 12-03-2004, 01:04 PM

Thank you Tuor of Gondolin and welcome back Squatter (not to be confused with an old American tv show.)

Here's one for the season: What was Tolkien's earliest recollection of Christmas?

Fordim Hedgethistle · 12-03-2004, 01:05 PM

Oo, oo, I think I know this one -- didn't he remember having a variety of South African evergreen as a Christmas tree??

Bêthberry · 12-03-2004, 01:22 PM

You've clearly forgotten about the wildebeest with the pomegranate nose, Fordim. And the sparkly spider decorations for the tree.

Any one else?

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-03-2004, 01:40 PM

I found a direct statement in Letter 56:

Quote:

My earliest recollection of Christmas is of a blazing hot day.

Bêthberry · 12-03-2004, 01:47 PM

Amazing how chat clears up a few stray possibilities.

And written in a letter to Christopher, who was in South Africa at the time. Ironies!

And now Estelyn, I believe you have some work to do...

Estelyn Telcontar · 12-03-2004, 01:52 PM

Who was the U.Q.?

Bêthberry · 12-03-2004, 01:55 PM

The "Utter Quack" I believe. A local doctor who Tolkien once said delighted in foretelling fatal illnesses. A nickname used by the Inklings.

And, more precisely, R.E. Harvard, who was both Lewis' and Tolkien's doctor.

12-03-2004, 01:04 PM	#1
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Thank you Tuor of Gondolin and welcome back Squatter (not to be confused with an old American tv show.) Here's one for the season: What was Tolkien's earliest recollection of Christmas? __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

12-03-2004, 01:05 PM	#2
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Oo, oo, I think I know this one -- didn't he remember having a variety of South African evergreen as a Christmas tree?? __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

12-03-2004, 01:22 PM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Dickens in Bloemfontein You've clearly forgotten about the wildebeest with the pomegranate nose, Fordim. And the sparkly spider decorations for the tree. Any one else? __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

12-03-2004, 01:47 PM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Amazing how chat clears up a few stray possibilities. And written in a letter to Christopher, who was in South Africa at the time. Ironies! And now Estelyn, I believe you have some work to do... __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

12-03-2004, 01:52 PM	#6
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Who was the U.Q.? __________________ '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...'

12-03-2004, 01:55 PM	#7
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	The "Utter Quack" I believe. A local doctor who Tolkien once said delighted in foretelling fatal illnesses. A nickname used by the Inklings. And, more precisely, R.E. Harvard, who was both Lewis' and Tolkien's doctor. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 12-03-2004 at 02:13 PM.