Christmas in Narnia or Middle-earth: the Pros and Cons

In a bit of festive fun, join Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker in this episode of Mythmakers as they explore how Christmas appears in the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. From the icy rule of the White Witch to a surprise visit from Father Christmas in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, they dig into the lore behind Narnia’s wintry themes. Then it’s on to Tolkien’s Father Christmas Letters and a look at how Yule is celebrated in Middle-earth.Listen in to find out where they’d each choose to spend the festive season—and let us know if you agree!(00:00) Welcome to Mythmakers Christmas episode(03:10) Old Yule vs Christmas in Narnia(06:05) Gift-giving contrast: wants vs needs(10:05) Myth, primary/secondary worlds, and “eucatastrophe” moments(19:20) Tolkien’s Father Christmas Letters introduced(23:22) North Pole adventures, goblins, war echoes, and deeper worldbuilding(32:33) Middle-earth and Yule(37:47) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (44:35) Choosing Narnia or Middle-earthFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok