Hobbit Day!
“In a hole in the ground there lives a hobbit.” - J.R.R. Tolkien.
The 22nd of September is the birthday of two beloved fictional characters: Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. Two hobbits who were the heroes of J.R.R. Tolkien's books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Hobbits are wondrous creatures, capable of immeasurable courage and feats worth reading about.
The Hobbit was first published in September 1937, receiving praise and remaining a classic within the fantasy genre. The Lord of the Rings is much the same, with the trilogy being published between 1937 and 1949. These 4 books have all been made into box office hits, reaching a wider audience and allowing for more people to discover the world of Middle Earth.
Some fun facts about the books:
Tolkien first came up with The Hobbit to entertain his children, however when he got some details mixed up, they asked him to write it down. Now it entertains children the world over.
The most striking feature of these books is Tolkien's unparalleled strength of world building, the environment is lived in, rich and immersive. Leaving much for readers to explore and dive into.
The Hobbit has never been out of print, and has gone on to sell over 100 million copies worldwide.
Tolkien created the original artwork himself; this includes art depicting mountains, trees and flying dragons, which all remain iconic today.
Hobbits love a party, especially one with a lot of food, joy, dancing, and fireworks. Some fans have been known to throw a mighty feast featuring 7 courses and sharing the merriment with people who share their love and interests.
Others often enjoy spending the day barefoot in solidarity with our heroes choice in footwear too.
I find that a marathon of the movies, or a quiet reread of The Hobbit is my favourite way to celebrate this very special day.
And let us not forget the rest of the hobbits who were just as essential to the story: Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took, and Meriadoc Brandybuck.
