Hobbits and presents

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Thanks for the reference to that wonderful letter, Pio! (Been awhile since I read them… ) I think the most important thing he tells us there is that hobbits both received and gave gifts on their birthdays. The receiving was a very private matter, however, and restricted to a very select group of people, whereas the gift giving was more public and widespread. So Sméagol would have received some presents early on his birthday, which then fits in with his tale.

Tolkien does tell us the reason the hobbits enjoyed the custom of giving presents:

Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater every day in the year was somebody’s birthday, so that every hobbit in those parts had a fair chance of at least one present at least once a week. (‘A Long-Expected Party’ )

That reminded me of something written by another Oxford professor some years earlier:

”I mean, what is an un-birthday present?”
“A present given when it isn’t your birthday, of course.”
Alice considered a little. “I like birthday presents best,” she said at last.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” cried Humpty Dumpty. “How many days are there in a year?”
“Three hundred and sixty-five,” said Alice.
“And how many birthdays have you?”
“One.”
“And if you take one from three hundred and sixty-five what remains?”
“Three hundred and sixty-four, of course.”…
“…that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents –“
“Certainly,” said Alice.
“And only one for birthday presents, you know. There’s glory for you!”
(Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll)