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'''Yule''' was | '''Yule''' was the [[Northern Mannish]] name of the midwinter festival, observed around the [[Westlands]]. The days around Yule were the Yule-tide. | ||
Due to a peculiarity of the [[ | In the [[Shire Calendar]], Yule referred to two days (the last of the previous and the first of the new year). Due to a peculiarity of the Calendar, the 2 Yuledays were "between" and outside the formal months of [[Foreyule]] and [[Afteryule]]. They always fell on the same days of the week; The last day of the year, [[1 Yule]], was always a [[Highday]] (Friday), while the first day of the following year, [[2 Yule]], was always a [[Sterday]] (Saturday).<ref name="Shire">{{App|Shire}}</ref><ref group=note>On a modern calendar, they fell approximately on 21 and 22 December.</ref> | ||
Around them, the six-day festival of [[Yuledays|Yuletide]] was held, running from [[29 December|29]] [[Foreyule]] through [[2 January|2]] [[Afteryule]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref> | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
{{quote|Very best wishes for Yule - J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien to [[Richard Jeffery]]<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>}} | {{quote|Very best wishes for Yule - J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien to [[Richard Jeffery]]<ref>{{L|347}}</ref>}} |
Revision as of 15:32, 9 January 2019
Yule was the Northern Mannish name of the midwinter festival, observed around the Westlands. The days around Yule were the Yule-tide.
In the Shire Calendar, Yule referred to two days (the last of the previous and the first of the new year). Due to a peculiarity of the Calendar, the 2 Yuledays were "between" and outside the formal months of Foreyule and Afteryule. They always fell on the same days of the week; The last day of the year, 1 Yule, was always a Highday (Friday), while the first day of the following year, 2 Yule, was always a Sterday (Saturday).[1][note 1]
Around them, the six-day festival of Yuletide was held, running from 29 Foreyule through 2 Afteryule.[2]
Etymology
- "Very best wishes for Yule - J. R. R. Tolkien"
- ― Tolkien to Richard Jeffery[3]
Yule is a translation of a Hobbitish word, not occurring in Westron.[4]
However it's possible that it derives from a form of Northern Mannish and later used in Rohirric. Since Gondorians of the Third Age were in part Northmen, the word was recognisable as a 'northern name' for the midwinter festival.[4]
In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's early conceptions of an Elven language, the word for "Yule(night), i.e. Log-night" is durufui. Tanfui means "Yule night".[5]
Notes
- ↑ On a modern calendar, they fell approximately on 21 and 22 December.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D, "The Shire Calendar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D, "The Calendars"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 347, (dated 17 December 1972)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 781
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), pp. 31, 69