Bilbo's Farewell Party

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Inger Edelfeldt - A Long Expected Party.jpg
Bilbo's Farewell Party
Event
Other namesBilbo's Birthday Party
LocationParty Field, Hobbiton
Date22 September T.A. 3001
ParticipantsSee below
ReferencesThe Fellowship of the Ring, "A Long-expected Party"
GalleryImages of Bilbo's Farewell Party

Bilbo's Farewell Party was a grand celebration held by Bilbo Baggins on his 111st birthday in the Party Field, on September 22, T.A. 3001. It was coincidentally also the 33rd birthday of his nephew Frodo Baggins. Another significance was that Bilbo's and Frodo's years on that day summed up 144 - a gross, and for that reason a portion of the party was "invitation only" with 144 guests.

Preparations

In T.A. 2989 Bilbo had taken into his custody his orphan younger cousin, Frodo Baggins, with whom they shared same birthday, and they celebrated with lively parties in Bag End. However as years passed Bilbo felt weary (possibly because of his use of his magic ring) and around T.A. 3001 he decided to leave The Shire. He scheduled his disappeareance as an abrupt event to concur during his birthday speech.

That year he would celebrate his 111st year and also Frodo's coming-of-age, and announced "a party of special magnificence", which caused a sensation in the vicinity, because of his eccentricity and wealth. Indeed, Dwarves of Erebor started arriving with wagons full of presents and toys; a bigger excitement came when the "conjurer" Gandalf, famous for his fireworks in the Old Took's parties years ago, also arrived.

The following days Bilbo was busy writing and sending invitations, managing his list and packaging the gifts, refusing curious folk who pretended to come for helping. The post-offices of Hobbiton and Bywater were overwhelmed by the number of invitations and responses.

In the days leading up to the party the large field in front of Bag End was repurposed for the needs of the feast, with ropes, poles, lanterns, tents and pavilions, and a new gate was built to connect it to the road.[1]

History

It was a huge and expensive celebration attended by most hobbits in the area. The party included copious amounts of food and drink, Gandalf the Grey provided fireworks for entertainment, and the presents given by Bilbo were made by the Dwarves of Erebor.

The occasion was notable in Hobbiton for Bilbo's abrupt disappearance (he used the Ring to disappear at the end of his speech). Bilbo then passed behind the surprised guests and returned to Bag End where Gandalf was waiting for him, and persuaded Bilbo to leave the Ring in Frodo's keeping when he departed.

Attendees

Bilbo's party in the The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I.
In alphabetical order

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Long-expected Party"
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Took of Great Smials"
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Baggins of Hobbiton"
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Brandybuck of Buckland"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Boffin of the Yale"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Long-expected Party"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Bolger of Budgeford"
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