How did I not know about #TolkienReadingDay?! In addition to celebrating the Gondorian New Year and the downfall of Sauron, March 25th is set aside each year to honor the work of J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Tolkien Society started the wonderful Tolkien Reading Day in 2003 to encourage fans to celebrate and promote the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien by reading favorite passages and attending events. Unfortunately, it looks like the majority of the events take place across the pond. Perhaps that’s why I’ve never heard of Tolkien Reading Day before Middle Earth News posted about it a couple days ago.
Tolkien Reading Day is organized around a particular theme each year. This year’s theme is “Poetry and Songs in Tolkien’s Fiction.” Since I love anything to do with Hobbits, I’ll be reading (and singing) my favorite Hobbit songs and poems:
- “The Road Goes Ever On” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 1 (“A Long-expected Party”) and Chapter 3 (“Three is Company”). I’ll also be reading the longer version from The Hobbit, Chapter 19 (“The Last Stage”).
- “Upon the Hearth the Fire Is Red” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 3 (“Three is Company”).
- “A Drinking Song” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 4 (“A Short Cut to Mushrooms”).
- “The Bath Song” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 5 (“A Conspiracy Unmasked”).
- “Farewell Song of Merry and Pippin” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 5 (“A Conspiracy Unmasked”).
- “Song in the Woods” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 6 (“The Old Forest”).
- “The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 9 (“At the Sign of the Prancing Pony”).
- “All that is Gold Does Not Glitter” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 10 (“Strider”).
- “Sam’s Rhyme of the Troll” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1, Chapter 12 (“Flight to the Ford”).
- “I Sit Beside the Fire” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter 3 (“The Ring Goes South”).
- “Frodo’s Lament for Gandalf” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 1, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter 7 (“The Mirror of Galadriel”).
- “Oliphaunt” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 2, The Two Towers, Book 4, Chapter 3 (“The Black Gate is Closed”).
- “In Western Lands” from The Lord of the Rings vol. 3, The Return of the King, Book 6, Chapter 1 (“The Tower of Cirith Ungol”).
Will you be celebrating Tolkien Reading Day? What will you be reading?