Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday has already passed. In our calendar it usually falls around September 13 or September 14. Most people, however, celebrate September 22 as The Birthday, completely forgetting that the Shire Calendar is not the same as ours.
Even The American Tolkien Society perpetuates the mixup and by now it’s far too late to correct the error. We’ll have to accept that by the time most Tolkien fans lift a glass of wine or soda to cheer Bilbo and Frodo the magic day will have passed by more than a week.
Tolkien Week is defined to be that calendaric week (running from Sunday through Saturday) in which September 22 falls. That happens to be this week. The American Tolkien Society suggests that:
The most popular method of observing Tolkien Week is the library bookstore or school display. Most libraries have bulletin boards or cases and some have enclosed display tables and other facilities up to and including display windows of considerable size. Many librarians among our members and friends create displays; other members contact their libraries and assist in preparing displays.
Well I’m all for an occasional visit to a library but I have Web sites devoted to — well to Tolkien science fiction and fantasy and even huckleberry products (which personally I feel Hobbits would love). In any event I can say something about Tolkien Week and Hobbit Day on these Web sites and by golly I am!
I posted an announcement on Xenite.Org but I’ve also shared the news at SF-Fandom’s Tolkien Forum and the Endor discussion group (which used to be the Middle-earth mailing list).
It seems rather silly for me to have to find a school or library this late in the year that will help me celebrate Tolkien Week. Okay maybe I should have planned ahead but I’ve been a little busy. The thing is if you want to do something special to remember Tolkien and his Hobbits (this year marks the 70th anniversary of The Hobbit) then get together with some friends this Saturday and toast Tolkien. Do a reading.
But put something on your Web site too. Or stop by the Tolkien Forum on SF-Fandom and say hello to your fellow Tolkien fans. You can still prepare a genuine hobbit feast (don’t forget the huckleberries!) if you enjoy cooking. Or go find an English pub and have an ale eat Shepherd’s Pie etc.
The point is it’s a special week for Tolkien fans. Remember the Shire!