The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Timeline of LotR and the Church Calendar

William Cloud Hicklin · 12-16-2015, 11:04 AM

March 25 was very deliberately chosen, in part I think because Tolkien had already had the party depart from Rivendell on Dec 25 originally due to an accident of mathematics ("Christian and indeed Catholic story, unconsciously in the writing but consciously so in the revision") There are notes which show JRRT working out the timeline of events after the Pelennor backwards from March 25, a sure indication that he wanted the climax to occur on that date.

March 25 has huge associations. Most know, I guess, that it was the Julian Calendar New Year (cf Aragorn beginning new King's Reckoning with March 25). It is also the Feast of the Annunciation (9 months before Christmas), an event and feast which were enormously important to Tolkien personally.* In the English Middle Ages it was "Lady Day," a quarter-day and an important day in terms of when rents and taxes were due.

Medieval tradition held that March 25 was the date of the Crucifixion- and note that Frodo passes through near-death on that day to arise again (in particular note Sam's comments).

Going further back, March 25 roughly represents the spring equinox the same way Christmas does the winter solstice, and in terms of Tolkien's tale represents the progress from the darkest day of winter to "to a brilliant Spring."

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*To Tolkien's mind (and heart), the Incarnation was more important even than the Resurrection

12-16-2015, 11:04 AM	#4
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,301	March 25 was very deliberately chosen, in part I think because Tolkien had already had the party depart from Rivendell on Dec 25 originally due to an accident of mathematics ("Christian and indeed Catholic story, unconsciously in the writing but consciously so in the revision") There are notes which show JRRT working out the timeline of events after the Pelennor backwards from March 25, a sure indication that he wanted the climax to occur on that date. March 25 has huge associations. Most know, I guess, that it was the Julian Calendar New Year (cf Aragorn beginning new King's Reckoning with March 25). It is also the Feast of the Annunciation (9 months before Christmas), an event and feast which were enormously important to Tolkien personally.* In the English Middle Ages it was "Lady Day," a quarter-day and an important day in terms of when rents and taxes were due. Medieval tradition held that March 25 was the date of the Crucifixion- and note that Frodo passes through near-death on that day to arise again (in particular note Sam's comments). Going further back, March 25 roughly represents the spring equinox the same way Christmas does the winter solstice, and in terms of Tolkien's tale represents the progress from the darkest day of winter to "to a brilliant Spring." ---------------------- To Tolkien's mind (and heart), the Incarnation was more important even than the Resurrection __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.* Last edited by William Cloud Hicklin; 12-16-2015 at 11:53 AM.