Durin's Day - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Earendilyon · 10-03-2005, 08:24 AM

The question is, of course: which day will you mark on your calender as 'Dwarves' New Year's Day'?

Hookbill the Goomba · 10-03-2005, 09:20 AM

I think, for England at least, it is today. For there was a partial eclipse of the sun today, which if that article in the Encyclopaedia is anything to go by, means that today IS Durin's day in this part of the world.

Earendilyon · 10-03-2005, 09:26 AM

I happen to disagree (see my first post in this thread): today is the first new moon of Autumn, not the last! As Thorin said, the Dwarves' New Year is the first day in the last moon of Autumn.

Edit: made a typo correction, see also here.

Hookbill the Goomba · 10-03-2005, 09:34 AM

Ah, okay, fare point. Still, the eclipse was cool.

So, the question remains, when, if ever, do we say is Durin's day? Some time between now and midwinter would be ideal. Does anyone know when Durin’s day was in The Hobbit? Perhaps that would be a starting point.

Hookbill the Goomba · 10-04-2005, 01:27 AM

I've just had a good read of The Hobbit, mainly the latter chapters in an attempt to date Durin's day. It seems to be defiantly in October, However, it is probably near the middle as the Battle of Five armies takes place at around the 15th or there about. My maths is probably wrong, but from this, I guess that Durin's day in The Hobbit would have been some where around the 10th.

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-04-2005, 01:46 AM

I dug out Foster's Guide (well, actually I have it handy on the bookshelf right next to my computer) and found this definition:

Quote:

The first day of the Dwarvish year, so called only if the moon and the sun shone in the sky at the same time. The Dwarves' New Year was the first day of the last new crescent moon of Autumn.

As I understand that, New Year would be every year, of course, but it would rarely be Durin's Day as well. The whole system for determining the Dwarves' New Year is similar to the Christian church's Easter holiday, which also changes its date, dependant on the first new moon of spring.

Earendilyon · 10-12-2005, 05:26 AM

At another site, where I also posted my first post in this thread, someone pointed me at some typo's I made: I had used 'Winter Equinox' whereas it should've been 'Winter Solstice' ofcourse, and 'full moon' in stead of 'new moon'. Fortunately, I did use the correct date of this year's last new moon of Autumn in my calculations.

I'll correct the typo's in a minute

- Earendilyon

10-03-2005, 08:24 AM	#1
Earendilyon Wight Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 166	The question is, of course: which day will you mark on your calender as 'Dwarves' New Year's Day'? __________________ "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me." Dominus Anulorum TolkienGateway - large Tolkien encyclopedia.

10-03-2005, 09:20 AM	#2
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	I think, for England at least, it is today. For there was a partial eclipse of the sun today, which if that article in the Encyclopaedia is anything to go by, means that today IS Durin's day in this part of the world. __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

10-03-2005, 09:26 AM	#3
Earendilyon Wight Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 166	I happen to disagree (see my first post in this thread): today is the first new moon of Autumn, not the last! As Thorin said, the Dwarves' New Year is the first day in the last moon of Autumn. Edit: made a typo correction, see also here. __________________ "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me." Dominus Anulorum TolkienGateway - large Tolkien encyclopedia. Last edited by Earendilyon; 10-12-2005 at 05:31 AM.

10-03-2005, 09:34 AM	#4
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Ah, okay, fare point. Still, the eclipse was cool. So, the question remains, when, if ever, do we say is Durin's day? Some time between now and midwinter would be ideal. Does anyone know when Durin’s day was in The Hobbit? Perhaps that would be a starting point. __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

10-04-2005, 01:27 AM	#5
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	I've just had a good read of The Hobbit, mainly the latter chapters in an attempt to date Durin's day. It seems to be defiantly in October, However, it is probably near the middle as the Battle of Five armies takes place at around the 15th or there about. My maths is probably wrong, but from this, I guess that Durin's day in The Hobbit would have been some where around the 10th. __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

10-12-2005, 05:26 AM	#7
Earendilyon Wight Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 166	At another site, where I also posted my first post in this thread, someone pointed me at some typo's I made: I had used 'Winter Equinox' whereas it should've been 'Winter Solstice' ofcourse, and 'full moon' in stead of 'new moon'. Fortunately, I did use the correct date of this year's last new moon of Autumn in my calculations. I'll correct the typo's in a minute - Earendilyon __________________ "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me." Dominus Anulorum TolkienGateway - large Tolkien encyclopedia.

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