Author of Blog Tolkien Indonesia. Tolkien, folklore, books, movies. East Javanese. She/her. Header by Oniria, gifted by @TJQChristian.
Every letter described Father Christmas' adventures in the North Pole, with squiggly handwriting and special stamps and envelopes to make them look real. In this first letter (1920), he reassured John Tolkien that he'd deliver toys to Oxford and drew his house for him. 2/8 
Christopher was Tolkien's number one fan, the one who understood his father's work after Tolkien himself. Starting from listening to tales of Bilbo Baggins as a kid, he assisted Tolkien in drawing maps and giving feedback during the 15-year gestation of Lord of the Rings. 2/13
2. Salt Houses (2017) by Hala Alyan.
Chocolate was known as the "food of gods" and currency in ancient times. According to legend, Aztec emperor Montezuma II drank gallons of it daily for vitality. Chocolate was also consumed for strength in giving birth and menopause, or staying awake for rituals and revelries. 2/8 
In Tolkien's early writing, an explorer, Eriol, was about to enter a tiny magical house called the Cottage of Lost Play. The house asked him to will himself to be as tiny as the "little folk" to enter. We can read it as a test of Eriol's humility. 2/8 
In a letter to Amy Ronald (16 November 1969), Tolkien described elanor as "a pimpernel (perhaps a little enlarged) growing sun-golden and star-silver ones on the same plant". The multitude of these flowers do give visual impression like golden stars on the ground. 2/6 
In Tolkien's early writing, an explorer, Eriol, was about to enter a tiny magical house called the Cottage of Lost Play. The house asked him to will himself to be as tiny as the "little folk" to enter. We can read it as a test of humility. 2/8
Spirit houses are places where animism and Buddhism beliefs intertwined; while the little houses are dedicated to spirits, a Buddhist priest is usually invited to help setting up the house during auspicious hour and performing rituals to "invite" the spirits to live in. 2/4 
In The Ebony Horse, the flying horse was made by a craftsman who was later imprisoned over a disastrous flying test; he tampered with the horse for revenge. Meglin (Maegln) suggested the Iron Dragons to Melko, who ordered his smiths and sorcerers to make them. 2/4
Mỵ Nương, a great king's daughter, was so beautiful that she wanted only the best suitors to show their powers. Sơn Tinh waved his hand to grow trees and raise mountains. Thủy Tinh summoned strong wind and rain and increased the sea level, making the choice difficult. 2/4 
A stranger found a white shell on the beach. When he put it on his ears, he heard the distant sounds of harbors and the seas. He saw "a boat, silently float/on the night-tide, empty and grey." It took him to a strange land where the inhabitants fled upon seeing him. 2/8
Tolkien wrote it in 1956 for his granddaughter, starting it with a cute image of a cat sleeping. One might think this cat was dreaming of mice and a bowl of cream:
Still in East Borneo, fisherfolk of Derawan Islands and Talisayan see the sharks as a blessing, since their appearance signify more fish to catch. In Talisayan, whale sharks even swim up for "breakfast" when fisherfolk throw less-than-ideal fish from their nets to them. 2/8 
This part is so poignant; when all these great Men, Elves, and Dwarves were debating, and no one answered the question about who will carry the Ring, the only one volunteered was this Hobbit who had been hurt by Morgul blade and wanted nothing but going home. 2/10
In Thai and Cambodian versions, Suvannamaccha was the daughter of Ravana, the kidnapper of Sita (who Hanuman was trying to rescue with the bridge). Her and Hanuman had mutual understanding about their actions; the lovers departed amicably after the bridge was finished. 2/3 
2. Kamakura has Meigetsu-in, or "Temple of the Clear Moon", famous for its hydrangeas, moon-shaped window at the main hall, and various bunny statues, showing the folkloric connection between the moon and bunnies. The temple also takes care of bunnies. 
One legend says that Nichiren, a famous Buddhist priest and philosopher, once felt pity when seeing the Yamataka Jindai tree in weakened state. He prayed compassionately upon the tree, which grew back into full vigor. 2/7 
The Dead Men were originally the Men of the Mountains. Their king had sworn allegiance to Isildur at the Stone of Erech. However, when Isildur summoned them to fight against Sauron, they refused. Furious, Isildur cursed them to never find rest until their oath was fulfilled. 2/5
Tolkien described the realm of fairy-story as wide, deep, and high, filled with all manner of beasts and birds, shoreless seas and stars uncounted. Beauty and perils are present together, just like how joy and sorrow "sharp as swords" are inseparable. 2/8
Christopher was Tolkien's number one fan, the one who understood his father's work after Tolkien himself. Starting from listening to tales of Bilbo Baggins as a kid, he assisted Tolkien in drawing maps and giving feedback during the 15-year gestation of Lord of the Rings. 2/13
Tolkien used his knowledge of Medieval manuscripts to create three facsimile pages from the book. He burnt the edges with his pipe, pierced holes where the pages would have been stitched to the binding, and washed the paper with red and brown paint to make dried bloodstains. 2/7