Equinii and Solsticsesss, m'preciousss

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

So from the Shire to Rivendell is Frodo's Autumn; from Rivendell to Mount Doom is his Winter, followed by his Spring... what begins his summer?

Frodo was probably basking under the light of their victory over Sauron in his summer.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Fascinating ideas here Mark!

According to the Anglo-Saxon Church calendar, 25th March (Ring Destruction Day) was the date of the Crucifixion, the Annunciation, and the last day of Creation. I've always liked that Tolkien chose a date that is all about beginnings, endings, and catastrophic changes.

[davem]

As to the significance of March 25th:

In his essay 'The Chronology of Middle earth', Tony Steele writes(after a long, highly complex analysis of Tolkien's calendars:

The total number of days for the years of the Sun during the First Age was 217,961. In brief, the calendar rules for the Reckoning of Rivendell are as follows - leap years occurred every twelfth year, & were always treble-leap-years (368 days). 144 years made a yen, & in the last year of every third yen the three extra days were omitted. We can therefore state with confidence that the first uprising of the Sun occurred on the following date:

25th March 10,160 BC

Make of that what you will!

[Findegil]

That essay seems to be an interesting read. Could you please give us bit more details were we can find it, davem?

Respectfully
Findegil

[davem]

Its in Mallorn 42 (Journal of the Tolkien Society. Available through the TS). His approach is to relate Middle earth to the history of this world. He states that the Second Agebegan in 9563BC, the Third Age in 6122 BC & the Fourth Age in 3102 BC.

[mark12_30]

Perky Ent gets credit for this one! He quoted Gandalf's letter, in the 'chapter by chapter' thread on Strider. Gandalf wrote to Frodo on Midsummer's day! I find this quite exciting. Gandalf, in essence, tries to start Frodo's quest a quarter-year earlier (writing the letter on Midsummer's Day, although Frodo wouldn't get it for at least five days, I think.) Check this out:

THE PRANCING PONY, BREE. Midyear's Day, Shire Year, 1418.

Dear Frodo,

*** Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You had better leave Bag End soon, and get out of the Shire before the end of July at latest. I will return as soon as I can; and I will follow you, if I find that you are gone. Leave a message for me here, if you pass through Bree. You can trust the landlord (Butterbur). You may meet a friend of mine on the Road: a man, lean, dark, tall, by some called Strider. He knows our business and will help you. Make for Rivendell. There I hope we may meet again. If I do not come, Elrond will advise you.

Yours in haste
** Gandalf.

PS. Do Not use It again, not for any reason whatever! Do not travel by night!

PPS. Make sure that it is the real Strider. There are many strange men on the roads. His true name is Aragorn.

All That is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither,
deep roots are not reached by the frost.
from the ashes a fire shall be woken,
a light from the shadows shall spring;
renewed shall be blade that was broken,
the crownless again shall be king.

PPPS. I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber-room: thing wanted always buried. If he forgets, I shall roast him.

Fare Well!

Intriguing point: it is exactly one year from the writing of this letter that Strider marries Arwen, and his entire quest is fulfilled.

[davem]

Don't know how relevant it is, but I always like the fact that Aragorn meets Gandalf in Fangorn on his birthday (1st March)!

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Fordim Hedgethistle

According to the Anglo-Saxon Church calendar, 25th March (Ring Destruction Day) was the date of the Crucifixion, the Annunciation, and the last day of Creation. I've always liked that Tolkien chose a date that is all about beginnings, endings, and catastrophic changes.

The more I think about that the more intriguing it gets. In Christian terms, the crucifixion was the end of the old world order and the birth of the new creation; it is the most cataclysmic change of all history, eclipsing even the fall of man.

One of my favorite quotes from 'The Passion' was "See, Mother, I make all things new" (Rev21.5) . I was half tempted to stand and cheer on that one.

And what a depiction of the end of the old order Jackson gave us as Barad-Dur and the Morannon crumbled.

Thanks, Fordim.

[mark12_30]

September 22: The first day of Autumn, or the Autumnal Equinox.

It is also Bilbo's Birthday.

And Frodo's.

And tomorrow is the day Frodo left Bag End headed for Crickhollow, and beyond.