Equinii and Solsticsesss, m'preciousss

[davem]

Originally Posted by Mark

Fellowship Departure Day (from Rivendell) is Dec 25, with obvious connections to Christmas. Ring Destruction Day according to Shipley is related to the old date for Easter.

Tolkien himself does write in Lobdell: A Tolkien Compass:

'The fellowship ... left on December 25th, which then had no sgniificance, since the Yule, or its equivalent, was then the last day of the year & the first of the next year. But December 25th (setting out) & March 25th (accomplishment of the quest) were intentionally chosen by me'

'A guide to the names in LotR'

However, Frodo's birthday (and Bilbo's) on Sept 22 is on or near the Autumn Equinox.

I always thought this date was a kind of in-joke, due to the fact that the Hobbit was published on that day in 1937.