Now consider this curious Tolkien account at Christmastime. Fairy-stories carried gospel foundations capable of delivering deeper, truer, lasting joy.

Tolkien, the work of fairy-stories was grounded in something far greater than whimsical fancy and flighty happiness. This story begins and ends in joy.įor J.R.R. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnaton. The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of man’s history.

Nearing the final strokes of his essay, Tolkien said: The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories.įrom Tolkien’s perspective, such good effect was really an echo of the primary good news as presented in the Christian gospel accounts. The peculiar quality of the ‘joy’ in successful Fantasy can thus be explained as a sudden glimpse of the underlying reality or truth…But in the “eucatastrophe” we see in a brief vision that the answer may be greater-it may be a far off gleam or echo of evangelium in the real world…it has long been my feeling (a joyous feeling) that God redeemed the corrupt making-creatures, men, in a way fitting to this aspect, as to others, of their strange nature. His unique word conveys the concept of a person experiencing a perspective shift, a “good turn” even amidst life’s catastrophic, down-turned circumstances. With this essay, Tolkien coined his original term eucatastrophe. In March of 1939, he delivered his famous essay On Fairy-stories at the University of St. Tolkien’s own take on the calendar carried a deep rootedness that included his full immersion in the Christian tradition. Originally a labor of love for the Tolkien children’s enjoyment, the letters were eventually published posthumously in 1976. These marvelously imaginative letters were drafted with rich characters, unique “Elvish” and rune-like handwriting, and colorful sketches to coincide with the seasonal tales. He was so fond of Yuletide that beginning in 1920, he crafted a Father Christmas letter each year for his beloved children. I puzzle throughout December: “Is all of our holiday stress a recent-days phenomenon?” And in my most reflective moments, I ask, “Is there any way to find deeper joy in December’s work?”

Jrr tolkien christmas letters