Durin's Day: Difference between revisions

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'''Durin's Day''' is a rare event noted by [[Dwarves]]. The first day of the Dwarves' year is the day that begins the last cycle of the [[Moon]] to begin in autumn. When on this day both the [[Sun]] and Moon may be seen in the sky together, it is called Durin's Day.
[[File:Eric Fraser - Durin's Day.jpg|[[Eric Fraser]] - ''Durin's Day''|thumb]]


In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the writing on the map that [[Gandalf]] had received from [[Thráin II]] mentioned Durin's Day. It predicted that on Durin's Day the last light of the Sun as night fell would reveal the secret door into the [[Lonely Mountain]].
'''Durin's Day''' is a rare event noted by [[Dwarves]].


An illustration of Durin's Day is featured on the [[Dutch Tolkien Calendar 2006]].
The new year of their calendar was the last cycle of the [[Moon]] to begin in autumn, or in [[Thorin]]'s words "the first day of the last moon of Autumn on the threshold of Winter"<ref>{{H|Rest}}</ref>. When on this day both the [[Sun]] and Moon may be seen in the sky together, it is called '''Durin's Day'''.
 
The [[Moon-letters]] written on the [[Thrór's Map]] predicted that on Durin's Day the last light of the Sun as night fell would reveal the [[Back Door|secret door]] into the [[Lonely Mountain]].
==Calculation==
Unlike ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] left no precise timetable for the events of ''[[The Hobbit]]''; however in ''[[The History of The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien set [[19 October]] as the [[Durin's Day]].<ref name="The History of The Hobbit">{{HH|T3}}, pp. 826,828</ref>
 
Before the ''History'' some calculations were made. According to [[Andreas Möhn]], the Durin's Day of {{TA|2941}} occurred on [[22 October]] of the [[Shire Calendar]]. This is based in the assumption that the orbital period of the moon, as described in ''LotR'', was about 20 minutes shorter/faster than today.<ref>See external links</ref>
 
[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] made a rough estimation based purely on the traveling times and distances, without any astronomical calculations. She puts the Durin's Day on [[30 October]].<ref>{{HM|AME}}, "The Hobbit", p. 100</ref>
 
{{references}}
 
==External links==
*[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Durin%27s_Day.html The Moon and Durin's Day]
[[Category: Events]]
[[de:Durins Tag]]
[[fi:Durinin Päivä]]

Revision as of 23:05, 16 November 2014

Eric Fraser - Durin's Day

Durin's Day is a rare event noted by Dwarves.

The new year of their calendar was the last cycle of the Moon to begin in autumn, or in Thorin's words "the first day of the last moon of Autumn on the threshold of Winter"[1]. When on this day both the Sun and Moon may be seen in the sky together, it is called Durin's Day.

The Moon-letters written on the Thrór's Map predicted that on Durin's Day the last light of the Sun as night fell would reveal the secret door into the Lonely Mountain.

Calculation

Unlike The Lord of the Rings Tolkien left no precise timetable for the events of The Hobbit; however in The History of The Hobbit, Tolkien set 19 October as the Durin's Day.[2]

Before the History some calculations were made. According to Andreas Möhn, the Durin's Day of T.A. 2941 occurred on 22 October of the Shire Calendar. This is based in the assumption that the orbital period of the moon, as described in LotR, was about 20 minutes shorter/faster than today.[3]

Karen Wynn Fonstad made a rough estimation based purely on the traveling times and distances, without any astronomical calculations. She puts the Durin's Day on 30 October.[4]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Short Rest"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "Timelines and Itinerary", "iii. The Timeline Revisited", pp. 826,828
  3. See external links
  4. Karen Wynn Fonstad (1991), The Atlas of Middle-earth, "The Hobbit", p. 100

External links