TCG Letter #2223

Polar Bear writes a letter to the "boys", John, Michael, and Christopher in November 1929. He says that his paw is better after cutting Christmas trees. He wishes John a Happy Birthday, for the 18th November. Interestingly he does not mention Christopher's. PB says that Father Christmas says that PB's English is not very good, which he says he can't help as he speaks Arktik.

He remarks at the end of his letter that his real name is Karhu, but that he does not tell many people.

In 'Toward an Annotated Father Christmas' Ian Hollenbaugh further notes the following details:

We do not get the correspondence, if there was any, in which NPB first tells of his hurt paw, referred to here and explained in the next letter. He simply begins with “my paw is better”.

On the envelope (untranscribed), on the flap above the address, is written a sentence in Arktik (Arctic, see just below): “RAIQE! TELKUME KIRYANDON NOLO.” Its meaning is obscure. This envelope was not included in the published collection until LFC, 2019.

NPB’s “real name,” Karhu, is the Finnish word for ‘bear’ (karhu). Tolkien was very fond of the Finnish language, particularly of its sound, which inspired and heavily influence his development of the “High Elven” language Qenya/Quenya. Karhu’s nephews, Paksu and Valkotukka, who are introduced in Christmas 1931, also have Finnish names.

1929	A 76	B 94	C 95	D 99	E 04	F 09	G 12	H 19	I 20	J 23
Letter - "Nov 1929" from Polar Bear, 2 pages				47	31	45	47	56 58	56 58	56 58
Transcription "Nov 1929"	13			46	30	44	46	56	56- 58	56- 58
Envelope "BOYS AT 22 NORTHMOOR RD" from Polar Bear								57	57	57
Letter - "Xmas 1929", "It is a light Christmas again...", 3 pages							48 51 55	60 65 64	60 64 65	60 64 65
Transcription "Xmas 1929"	13	2/8- 2/13		48- 51	32- 35	47- 51	49	59	59- 66	59- 66
Art - Father Christmas in sleigh above sea and clouds				51	35	50	54	67	67	67
Art - Father Christmas and Polar Bear in office / bonfire and fireworks / window opening	14	2/9 2/12 2/13	18 20	49	33	49	52	62	62	62
Envelope "J.&M.&C.&P. Tolkien"			6	44	RC	46	49	59	59	59
Stamp A - "2" in diamond with holly in corners	13		6	2	FT	46	49	59	59	59
Stamp B - "sun and tree" in holly border	13	2/7	6	2	TP	46	49	59	59	59