Durin's Day - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Hookbill the Goomba · 10-02-2005, 07:57 AM

Ah, thanks Estelyn. Its just that the Books forum was where the Bilbo + Frodo birthday thread was.

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-02-2005, 08:03 AM

(Very true, and I just had a look at that thread to see if it needed moving as well. But it's slightly different in emphasis, discussing the exact date of the birthday according to the book, so for now, I'm leaving that one on Books.)

Hookbill the Goomba · 10-02-2005, 08:08 AM

I was just looking at this on TEoA.

Quote:

Dwarvish New Years
A selection of modern Dwarvish new years: all dates are shown in the modern (Gregorian) calendar
2001 16 October
2002 6 October
2003 26 September
2004 14 October
2005 3 October
2006 22 September
2007 11 October
2008 29 September
2009 18 October
2010 7 October
2011 27 September
Thursday 14 October 2004 is a definite Durin's Day: not only do the Sun and Moon appear in the sky together, but a partial solar eclipse occurs. The occurrence of other Durin's Days will depend on longitude.

Reading the article besides this on the Encyclopaedia reveals that Durins day will be different in which country you are in. I suppose this applied to the Dwarves of Middle Earth as well. This got me thinking, Dwarves in, say, The Blue Mountains, would have a different day to those in the iron hills, if its further enough away. It must be confusing.

Earendilyon · 10-02-2005, 02:00 PM

Taking the risk that this thread has to be re-relocated, I start a discussion on the actual date of the Dwarves' New Year.

Thorin Oakenshield says in the Hobbit (requoted from tEoA):

Quote:

"The first day of the dwarves' New Year ... is as all should know the first day of the last moon of Autumn on the threshold of Winter."

As we know, Winter starts at the Winter Solstice, which is on or about December 21 (on the Northern Hemisphere that is, but as JRRT's stories for almost 100% took place there, we take that for granted).
From the article Lunar Phase @ Wikipedia I got the information, that 'the last (new) moon of Autumn' in 2005 is December 1, so this year's Dwarvish New Year's Day is December 2, and not tomorrow, as tEoA claims.

[According to the Wikipedia article, on October 3 is this year the first New Moon of Autumn (i.e. the first new moon after the Autumn Equinox, which is on or around September 23), which would mean that the Dwarves' New Year's Day would be on October 4, coinciding with World Animal Day

].

- Earendilyon

Edit: made a few typo corrections, see also here.

Thinlómien · 10-03-2005, 08:05 AM

A nice idea. I myself have never thought about celebrating Durin's Day, because I haven't known when it is. From now, I'll probably at least mark it to my calendar...

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.

10-02-2005, 07:57 AM	#1
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Ah, thanks Estelyn. Its just that the Books forum was where the Bilbo + Frodo birthday thread was. __________________ 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...

10-02-2005, 08:03 AM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	(Very true, and I just had a look at that thread to see if it needed moving as well. But it's slightly different in emphasis, discussing the exact date of the birthday according to the book, so for now, I'm leaving that one on Books.) __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

10-03-2005, 08:05 AM	#5
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	A nice idea. I myself have never thought about celebrating Durin's Day, because I haven't known when it is. From now, I'll probably at least mark it to my calendar... __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

10-03-2005, 08:24 AM	#6
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	#7
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...