Were there holidays in Middle-earth? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gimli Son Of Gloin · 07-21-2002, 05:05 PM

I was thinking(which I rarely do during the summer). In The Shire, and all of Middle Earth for that matter, there was no God. So there were no religious holidays like Christmas and Easter. Did they have <Em>any</em> holidays of the sort?

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: Gimli Son Of Gloin ]

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: The Barrow-Wight ]

NazgulNumberTen · 07-21-2002, 05:10 PM

no god? (cough)eru(cough)
what about mid-years day?

*Varda* · 07-21-2002, 05:15 PM

Didn't the elves consider Eru their god? Although there seemed to be no mention of religious affairs in the Shire.

I wouldn't worry - I'm sure the Hobbits, being so fond of parties, drinking, eating, and smoking would arrange several holidays for themselves.

Elrian · 07-21-2002, 05:19 PM

There was Yule also.

Lady_Galadriel · 07-21-2002, 06:33 PM

This is a stupid question, but when is mid years day?

Elrian · 07-21-2002, 07:06 PM

July 2nd

Birdland · 07-21-2002, 09:28 PM

I always assumed that "Mid-Year Day" and "Yule" were the equivalent of the earth's Summer and Winter Solstices. The Elves celebrated it, also. These two events have been celebrated by most cultures throughout time. It's the reason why the Christian religion chose these solar events for our own Christmas and Easter holidays.

As for other times of celebration, I imagine that the Shire and other kingdoms had their "patriotic" holidays; like celebrating the founding of the Shire, or the defeat of the Orcs that attacked Buckland, things like that. And being a mostly agricultural society, they probably had something like Harvest Home or Oktoberfest.

Maybe they celebrated the Bullroarer's Birthday, and made it a three-day weekend.

And of course, The Scouring of the Shire will be long remembered and an occasion for parades and festivities.

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

burrahobbit · 07-21-2002, 11:35 PM

The Numenoreans had Holy Crap Eru Is Great Day. I'm not feeling too hot right now, so I'm not going to look up how to spell it. It's in UT.

Lady_Galadriel · 07-22-2002, 10:44 PM

Quote:

July 2nd

oh no.. then weve just missed it.. okay by like a month....

Aldagrim Proudfoot · 07-23-2002, 08:08 AM

The months June and July are name Lithe and AfterLithe on the Hobbit calender, so I guess Lithe is Midyears day. Didn't they take days out of the calender for the end of the year holiday?

Plus there are different feasts mentioned on the Sil.

Dimaldaeon · 07-23-2002, 08:12 AM

Didn't some people worship the Valar. But can you imagine a world without religious holidays.
No St. Patricks day (Ye Yanks wouldn't have an excuse to get drunk and make fun of us)
No Easter (Beorns chocolate industry would go bankrupt)
No Christmas (The very though of this makes me shudder)

07-21-2002, 05:05 PM	#1
Gimli Son Of Gloin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Halls of Montezuma, and the Shores of Tripoli Posts: 495	Were there holidays in Middle-earth? I was thinking(which I rarely do during the summer). In The Shire, and all of Middle Earth for that matter, there was no God. So there were no religious holidays like Christmas and Easter. Did they have <Em>any</em> holidays of the sort? [ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: Gimli Son Of Gloin ] [ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: The Barrow-Wight ] __________________ The Few, the Proud, the Marines.

07-21-2002, 05:10 PM	#2
NazgulNumberTen Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Crawled in a dark corner Posts: 369	no god? (cough)eru(cough) what about mid-years day? __________________ "It's not stupid, it's advanced!" -Invader Zim

07-21-2002, 05:15 PM	#3
Varda Maiden of Tears Join Date: May 2002 Location: Valinor. Posts: 571	Didn't the elves consider Eru their god? Although there seemed to be no mention of religious affairs in the Shire. I wouldn't worry - I'm sure the Hobbits, being so fond of parties, drinking, eating, and smoking would arrange several holidays for themselves. __________________ 'It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them' ~Frodo "Life is hard. After all, it kills you." - Katharine Hepburn

07-21-2002, 05:19 PM	#4
Elrian Eldar Spirit of Truth Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Land of the FREE, Home of the BRAVE Posts: 794	There was Yule also. __________________ ~Call me a relic, call me what you will. Say I'm old fashioned , say I'm over the hill. That old whine ain't got no soul. I'll stick to Old Toby and a Hobbit hole.~

07-21-2002, 06:33 PM	#5
Lady_Galadriel Wight Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Shire, Hobbiton, Middle Earth Posts: 135	This is a stupid question, but when is mid years day? __________________ " You can't toast me!"

07-21-2002, 07:06 PM	#6
Elrian Eldar Spirit of Truth Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Land of the FREE, Home of the BRAVE Posts: 794	July 2nd __________________ ~Call me a relic, call me what you will. Say I'm old fashioned , say I'm over the hill. That old whine ain't got no soul. I'll stick to Old Toby and a Hobbit hole.~

07-21-2002, 09:28 PM	#7
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	I always assumed that "Mid-Year Day" and "Yule" were the equivalent of the earth's Summer and Winter Solstices. The Elves celebrated it, also. These two events have been celebrated by most cultures throughout time. It's the reason why the Christian religion chose these solar events for our own Christmas and Easter holidays. As for other times of celebration, I imagine that the Shire and other kingdoms had their "patriotic" holidays; like celebrating the founding of the Shire, or the defeat of the Orcs that attacked Buckland, things like that. And being a mostly agricultural society, they probably had something like Harvest Home or Oktoberfest. Maybe they celebrated the Bullroarer's Birthday, and made it a three-day weekend. And of course, The Scouring of the Shire will be long remembered and an occasion for parades and festivities. [ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

07-21-2002, 11:35 PM	#8
burrahobbit Hidden Spirit Join Date: May 2000 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,424	The Numenoreans had Holy Crap Eru Is Great Day. I'm not feeling too hot right now, so I'm not going to look up how to spell it. It's in UT. __________________ What's a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?

07-23-2002, 08:08 AM	#10
Aldagrim Proudfoot Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 328	The months June and July are name Lithe and AfterLithe on the Hobbit calender, so I guess Lithe is Midyears day. Didn't they take days out of the calender for the end of the year holiday? Plus there are different feasts mentioned on the Sil. __________________ I do not suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it!

07-23-2002, 08:12 AM	#11
Dimaldaeon Wight Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ireland & damn proud of it. Posts: 125	Didn't some people worship the Valar. But can you imagine a world without religious holidays. No St. Patricks day (Ye Yanks wouldn't have an excuse to get drunk and make fun of us) No Easter (Beorns chocolate industry would go bankrupt) No Christmas (The very though of this makes me shudder) __________________ Dear Saddam, Do not disunderestimate me.Yours G.W.Bush You're not drunk if you can still hold onto a blade of grass to stop yourself from falling off the face of the Earth