Víressë

From Tolkien Gateway

Víressë was the name for the month of the year (asta) that followed the month Súlimë and preceded the month Lótessë. It was the fourth month in the King's Reckoning and the Stewards' Reckoning; in the latter calendar, it was preceded by the feast-day of Tuilérë. After the introduction of New Reckoning, Víressë became the first month.[1]

Víressë in the Kings' Reckoning (and for the most part in the Stewards' Reckoning) corresponded to Astron in the Shire Calendar (approximately modern 23 March through 21 April).

Etymology[edit | edit source]

This Quenya name is related to words such as virya "fresh" and perhaps derives from an Elvish root having to do with freshness or youth.[2] Víressë was the Quenya name inherited from Númenor and traditionally used by the Westron-speaking peoples. The Dúnedain themselves however used the Sindarin name of the month, Gwirith.[1]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

As the Númenorean calendars seem to be based on the French Republican Calendar, the name and meaning of the month corresponds to the month Germinal, meaning "seed-time".[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix D, "The Calendars"
  2. Helge Fauskanger, "Quettaparma Quenyallo", Ardalambion (accessed 19 March 2024)
  3. Jim Allan (1978), An Introduction to Elvish, Elvish loanwords in Indo-European, p. 151