Greetings from the North Pole, Part XXIII

Christmas Eve 2025

My dearest children,

Drums and trumpets—it’s Christmas again! When I was a Correspondent, the entirety of the year revolved around the axis of this One Night, but as an Historian, I am steeped in the Past, only to lose the Present to the Future all in a leap! Providentially, realizing that I am late starting has made me early finishing—a special delivery on Christmas Eve!

My new vocation goes well—or vocations, rather! The wedding last Spring came off without a hitch (except the One Intended, as Tuggs likes to say), and Bell and I are as happy as otters on a snow-slide![1] We have a portrait of my Gracie next to the grotto by the fireplace, and we are sure she and Our Lady are pleased and praying for us.

But also, my work compiling Elfin Lore and History is delightful, particularly after breaking the ice, as we say, with Lecturius Mustkeep. Ol’ Musty maintains the Archives and Stacks of the library at Saint Nicholas of Myra College and Seminary beyond the Pole in what you would call the North of Russia. He is a Tough Nut to crack—but his fondness for Old Things extends to scotch, as I supposed it might, and Santa himself permitted me to regift a one of his: a bottle of Cratchit Brothers, aged a century and extremely rare!

Lecturius and his brother Ponderus are great-grandsons of Pontificus Mustkeep, one of the founders of the college and the first Elfin Loremaster, whose personal collection is the foundation of the Archives. Ponderus hoards, and occasionally sells, antiquities and is even more reclusive his brother: large, menacing, and reticent as a mountain. Lecturius is gruff,  gray-bearded, and spectacled, but civil enough, and he has deep knowledge of all things Elf. Conversing with him through the narrow gap in the stacks of books that cover his desk is an experience not to be missed—particularly over two fingers of whisky!

Among other things, I am learning about misconceptions about us from Down Below. What can I share in a sentence or two?

It is a myth of your world that we elves eat only sweets. We love all good food and drink, and many of us cannot eat what passes for candy among your Folk at all! We do, however, all have sweet-tooths—or rather, sweet-teeth—and enjoy the homemade desserts and confections made here in the North or shared by all of you. (Your pies and cookies look outstanding!) Since the winds blow cold and our blood flows quick and hot, we burn calories much more quickly than even the Largest and most Athletic of humans, so we Elves are never large and rarely fat!

Also, although we are fond of jingling bells and often sew them to our warm outer garments, we are not so fond as to wear them on our toes.[2] Indeed, none of us wear boots or shoes with pointed or curling toes or bells, except for certain Traditional Dances. In these cases, both the dances and shoes are handed down from generation to generation.

On that note—the mention of tradition—I offer the following thoughts: My life has changed significantly since first we began corresponding, and so has yours. It must be so. Humans grow and change quickly: In just the next few months, Emma and Isaac will marry and your Parents and Lily will move. Next Christmas they will decorate a new house, without a banister or mantle, perhaps—or maybe with high ceilings for a massive Tree! Perhaps you will not all be together. Perhaps my work will take me abroad, so that I write to you early or late (or both, again!).

My Lesson is this: These little Traditions may change, and that is well. But Faith, Hope, and Charity do not change. People, families, and relationships may change—but the Lord does not. Our desires and needs may change, but our call to Holiness does not. You are all Good. Stay good, and you will weather these changes just fine!

I have learned this well, from Gracie to Bell!

Wishing you the happiest of Christmases and very blessed New Year!

Yours still and always,

Q

Siberius Quill

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[1] No “pups” yet!

[2] Bells on our coats and hats also help us to be heard, and thus seen, when we are out and about in the long winter darkness.