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Shire Calendar

2013-02-21T14:02:55Z

OldakQuill: Add sentence about differing names of months in Eastfarthing

The '''Shire Calendar''' was used by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]]. It was different from that used by the [[Men]], [[Dwarves]] and [[Elves]]. Use of this calendar in Middle-earth is referred to as '''[[Shire-reckoning]]'''.

The calendar featured 12 months, all 30 days long, plus 5 or 6 named days added to round out 365 days (or 366 for leap years). Two of the named days were [[Yuledays]]; one was the first day of the year and the other was the last day of the year. Between June and July were the Lithedays. In regular years (not leap years) there were three: 1 Lithe, [[Mid-year's Day]], and 2 Lithe. In leap years (every fourth year except in the last year of a century) an extra [[Overlithe]] Day was added after Mid-year's Day. All of the named days were major holidays (and a reason for feasting) with Overlithe being a day of special merrymaking. The two Yuledays were actually a portion of Yuletide, which included the last three and first three days of each year.
==History==
When the [[Hobbits]] were still a [[Wandering Days|wandering]] people, their calendaric unit was not a 'week' , but a 'month', governed more or less by the [[Moon]]. However, through contact with alien peoples (perhaps the [[Dúnedain of Arnor]]) they adopted the notion of weeks which formed the [[Shire Reckoning]]. It was based on the [[King's Reckoning]] but with several minor alterations to fit their customs.<ref>{{HM|AD}}</ref>

One innovation introduced by the [[Shire-hobbits]] was the '''Shire-reform'''. In the time of Thain [[Isengrim Took II|Isengrim II]] they arranged that Mid-year’s Day (and the Overlithe) would not have a weekday name, which stopped the shifting of weekday names in relation to dates. This change made the first day of the year always correspond to the first day of the week, and the last day of the year always correspond to the last day of the week. Over time, since the same date in any year had the same weekday name as in any other year, the Shire-folk ceased to record the weekday in letters and diaries. Since no month began on a Friday this arrangement also birthed a jesting idiom in the Shire: "On Friday the first" referred to a non-existent day or one on which impossible things would occur (the full expression was "on Friday the first of [[Summerfilth]]").

==Months of the year and special days==
The Shire calendar's year was divided into 12 months of 30 days. Five additional days were added to create a 365-day year. The months followed the lunar cycle.

The twelve months of the [[Shire Calendar]] were: [[Afteryule]], [[Solmath]], [[Rethe]], [[Astron]], [[Thrimidge]], [[Forelithe]], [[Afterlithe]], [[Wedmath]], [[Halimath]], [[Winterfilth]], [[Blotmath]], and [[Foreyule]]. Solmath was usually pronounced and sometimes written as Somath. Thrimidge was often written Thrimich and Blotmath was pronounced as Blodmath or Blommath.

In the [[Eastfarthing]] the names of Afteryule, Astron, and Foreyule, were [[Frery]], [[Chithing]], and [[Yulemath]], respectively. These correspond for the names used in [[Bree]] for those months.<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tr style="background:#EFEFEF;"><th>Month number</th><th>Name</th><th>Approximate relationship to Gregorian calendar</th></tr>
<tr><td align=center> </td><td>''2 [[Yule]]''</td><td>22nd of December</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>1</td><td>''[[Afteryule]]''</td><td>23rd of December to the 21st of January</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>2</td><td>''[[Solmath]]''</td><td>22nd of January to the 20th of February</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>3</td><td>''[[Rethe]]''</td><td>21st of February to the 22nd of March</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>4</td><td>''[[Astron]]''</td><td>23rd of March to 21st of April</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>5</td><td>''[[Thrimidge]]''</td><td>22nd of April to the 21st of May</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>6</td><td>''[[Forelithe]]''</td><td>22nd of May to the 20th of June</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center> </td><td>''1 [[Lithe]]''</td><td>21st of June</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center> </td><td>''[[Midyear's Day]]''</td><td>22nd of June</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center> </td><td>''[[Overlithe]]''</td><td>Leap day</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center> </td><td>''2 Lithe''</td><td>23rd of June</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>7</td><td>''[[Afterlithe]]''</td><td>24th of June to the 23rd of July</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>8</td><td>''[[Wedmath]]''</td><td>24th of July to the 22nd of August</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>9</td><td>''[[Halimath]]''</td><td>23rd of August to the 21st of September</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>10</td><td>''[[Winterfilth]]''</td><td>22nd of September to 21st of October</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>11</td><td>''[[Blotmath]]''</td><td>22nd of October to the 20th of November</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center>12</td><td>''[[Foreyule]]''</td><td>21st of November to the 20th of December</td></tr>
<tr><td align=center> </td><td>''1 Yule''</td><td>21st of December</td></tr>
</table>

The ''[[Yuledays]]'' were the days that mark the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one, so 2 Yule was the first day of the year. The ''Lithedays'' are the three days in the middle of the year, 1 Lithe, Mid-year's Day, and 2 Lithe. In leap years (every fourth year except centennial years) a day was added after Mid-year's Day called ''Overlithe''. All these days were placed outside of any month. These days were primarily holidays and feast days. ''Mid-year's Day'' is meant to correspond to the summer solstice, being 10 days earlier than the middle day of our year. However, since then the summer solstice has shifted slightly so it falls on a different date now, rendering the difference between ''Mid-year's Day'' and the middle day of our year eleven days, instead of ten.

== Days of the week ==

The seven weekdays of the Shire Calendar (at the time of the [[War of the Ring]]) were [[Sterday]], [[Sunday]], [[Monday]], [[Trewsday]], [[Hevensday]] (or Hensday), [[Mersday]], and [[Highday]]. The last day of the week, Highday, was the chief day, a post-noon holiday and time for evening feasts.

The Mid-year's Day and, when present, Overlithe had no weekday assignments. This arrangement was used because it caused every day to have the same weekday designation from year to year (instead of changing as in the Gregorian calendar).

<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0">
<tr style="background:#EFEFEF;"><th>Day Name</th><th>Meaning</th><th>Translation in ''The Lord of the Rings''</th><th>Relationship to Gregorian calendar</th></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Sterday]]''</td><td>Stars of [[Varda]]</td><td>Saturday</td><td>Monday</td></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Sunday]]''</td><td>[[Sun]]</td><td>Sunday</td><td>Tuesday</td></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Monday]]''</td><td>[[Moon]]</td><td>Monday</td><td>Wednesday</td></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Trewsday]]''</td><td>[[Two Trees]] of Valinor</td><td>Tuesday</td><td>Thursday</td></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Hevensday]]''</td><td>[[Ilmen|Heavens]]</td><td>Wednesday</td><td>Friday</td></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Mersday]]''</td><td>[[Belegaer|Sea]]</td><td>Thursday</td><td>Saturday</td></tr>
<tr><td >''[[Highday]]''</td><td>[[Valar]]</td><td>Friday</td><td>Sunday</td></tr>
</table>

Highday was a holiday with evening feasts.

==Inspiration==
It is highly based on the Germanic calendar.

In ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the names of months and days are given in modern equivalents. For instance, Afteryule is called ''January'' and Sterday is called ''Saturday''.

Also, all days (except in Bilbo's Song) are translated according to the meaning of Sunday and Monday rather than according to position in the Gregorian calendar.
{{references}}
*{{App|Shire}}
*{{App|Calendars}}

==External links==
*[http://shire-reckoning.com/ The Shire-reckoning] website, dedicated to detailed analysis of the Hobbit Calendar.
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]

[[de:Auenland-Kalender]]
[[fi:Konnun kalenteri]]

Blotmath

2013-02-21T13:58:43Z

OldakQuill: Add pronunciation

{{shiremonths}}
'''Blotmath''' (pronounced Blodmath or Blommath) was the eleventh month of the [[Shire Calendar]], approximately equivalent to modern November (in fact running from 22 October to 20 November on a modern calendar). It was called [[Blooting]] in [[Bree]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[de:Blotmath]]
[[fi:Blotmath]]

Foreyule

2013-02-21T13:55:00Z

OldakQuill: Add sentence about Yulemath

{{shiremonths}}
'''Foreyule''' was the last month of the [[Shire Calendar]], thirty days immediately preceding the holiday of [[Yule]]. It ran from modern 21 November to 20 December. It was called [[Yulemath]] in [[Bree]] and the [[Eastfarthing]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[de:Auenland-Kalender#Monate]]
[[fi:Julenala]]

Yulemath

2013-02-21T13:54:11Z

OldakQuill: Create article

{{breemonths}}
'''Yulemath''' was the last month of the calendars of [[Bree]] and [[Eastfarthing]], corresponding to [[Foreyule]] in the [[Shire Calendar]]. It was the thirty days immediately preceding the holiday of [[Yule]] and ran from modern 21 November to 20 December.<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[de:Auenland-Kalender#Monate]]

Blotmath

2013-02-21T13:51:33Z

OldakQuill: Add link to Blooting

{{shiremonths}}
'''Blotmath''' was the eleventh month of the [[Shire Calendar]], approximately equivalent to modern November (in fact running from 22 October to 20 November on a modern calendar). It was called [[Blooting]] in [[Bree]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[de:Blotmath]]
[[fi:Blotmath]]

Blooting

2013-02-21T13:50:24Z

OldakQuill: Create article

{{breemonths}}
'''Blooting''' was the eleventh month of the [[Bree Calendar]], corresponding to [[Blotmath]] in the [[Shire Calendar]]. It is approximately equivalent to modern November (in fact running from 22 October to 20 November on a modern calendar).<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]

Winterfilth

2013-02-21T13:48:21Z

OldakQuill: Created Wintring article; modified accordingly

{{shiremonths}}
'''Winterfilth''' was the tenth month of the [[Shire Calendar]], approximately equivalent to modern October (in fact running from 22 September to 21 October on a modern calendar). This month was called [[Wintring]] in [[Bree]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name represents a [[Hobbitish|modernization]] of the [[Old English]] name for October, [[wiktionary:winterfylleþ|Winterfylleþ]], meaning "Winter-filling" or "Winter-full moon"<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_smn.html|articlename=The Shire month-names|author=[[Arden R. Smith]]|website=[http://www.forodrim.org/daeron Mellonath Daeron - The Language Guild of the Forodrim]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Summerfilth]] - a fictitious month used proverbially

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]

Wintring

2013-02-21T13:47:17Z

OldakQuill: Create article

{{breemonths}}
'''Wintring''' in [[Bree]] was the tenth month of the [[Bree Calendar]], corresponding to [[Winterfilth]] in the [[Shire Calendar]]. It is approximately equivalent to modern October (in fact running from 22 September to 21 October on a modern calendar).<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The Bree name means "Wintry"<ref>[[Jim Allan]] (ed.) ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', Giving of Names, p. 228</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]

Harvestmath

2013-02-21T13:36:25Z

OldakQuill: Add {{breemonths}} infobox

{{breemonths}}

'''Harvestmath''' is the name of the ninth month in the [[Bree Calendar]] (used by the [[Hobbits]] of [[Bree]]), following [[Wedmath]]. In the [[Shire]] the month was known as [[Halimath]].<ref>{{App|D}}</ref>
==Etymology==
The name represents a [[Hobbitish|modernization]] of an [[Old English]] name for September, [[wiktionary:hærfestmonaþ|hærfestmōnaþ]].<ref>[[Jim Allan]] (ed.) ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', Giving of Names, p. 228</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[fi:Harvestmath]]

Afterlithe

2013-02-21T13:35:07Z

OldakQuill: Created Mede; modified this article accordingly

{{shiremonths}}
'''Afterlithe''' was the seventh month of [[the Shire]] Calendar, following, as its name suggests, the midsummer feastdays of [[Lithe]], and approximately equivalent to modern July. It ran from modern 24 June to 23 July in a normal year. This month was called [[Mede]] in [[Bree]].

The [[Quenya]] name was [[Cermië]], and the [[Sindarin]] name - used by the [[Dúnedain]] - was [[Cerveth]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Afterlithe was named for its occurrence after the holiday of Lithe. (See [[Forelithe]]) The name corresponds to the Old English name for July, [[wiktionary:æfterra liþa|æftera Líða]], or "after Litha."

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit_Calendar]]

Mede

2013-02-21T13:33:53Z

OldakQuill: Start article

{{breemonths}}
'''Mede''' was the seventh month of the calendar of [[Bree]], corresponding to [[Afterlithe]] of the [[Shire Calendar]], and approximately equivalent to modern July. It ran from modern 24 June to 23 July in a normal year.<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Mede, means "meadow".<ref>[[Jim Allan]] (ed.) ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', Giving of Names, p. 228</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit_Calendar]]

Astron

2013-02-21T13:28:54Z

OldakQuill: Created separate Chithing article; moved one sentence there; linked to Chithing

{{shiremonths}}
'''Astron''', was the fourth month of the year according to the [[Shire Calendar]], approximately equivalent to modern April. This month was called [[Chithing]] in [[Bree]] and the [[Eastfarthing]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name represents a [[Hobbitish|modernization]] of the [[Old English]] name for the Easter, ''[[wiktionary:eastre|ēastre]]''.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_smn.html|articlename=The Shire month-names|author=[[Arden R. Smith]]|website=[http://www.forodrim.org/daeron Mellonath Daeron - The Language Guild of the Forodrim]}}</ref> The actual name for April was ''[[wiktionary:eastermonaþ|ēastermōnaþ]]''

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[de:Auenland-Kalender#Monate]]
[[fi:Astron]]

Chithing

2013-02-21T13:27:34Z

OldakQuill: Create article

{{breemonths}}
'''Chithing''' was the fourth month of the year according to the calendars of [[Bree]] and the [[Eastfarthing]], approximately equivalent to modern April. It corresponds to [[Astron]] in the [[Shire Calendar]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==

''Chithing'' represents ''ciðing'' "germinating".<ref>[[Jim Allan]] (ed.) ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', Giving of Names, p. 228</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[de:Auenland-Kalender#Monate]]

Afteryule

2013-02-21T13:25:04Z

OldakQuill: Accidentally blanked

{{shiremonths}}
'''Afteryule''' was the first month of [[the Shire]] calendar, thirty days immediately following the holiday of [[Yule]] (hence its name). It ran from modern 23 December to 21 January. This month was called [[Frery]] in [[Bree]] and in the [[Eastfarthing]]<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name represents a [[Hobbitish|modernization]] of the [[Old English]] name for January, [[wiktionary:æfterra geola|æfterra ġēola]].<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_smn.html|articlename=The Shire month-names|author=[[Arden R. Smith]]|website=[http://www.forodrim.org/daeron Mellonath Daeron - The Language Guild of the Forodrim]}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit_Calendar]]
[[de:Auenland-Kalender#Monate]]
[[fi:Jälkijule]]

Afteryule

2013-02-21T13:24:36Z

OldakQuill: Created separate Frery article; moved one sentence there; linked to Frery

Frery

2013-02-21T13:23:15Z

OldakQuill: Start article

{{breemonths}}

'''Frery''' was the first month of the [[Bree]] and [[Eastfarthing]] calendars, corresponding to the [[Afteryule]] in the [[Shire Calendar]]. It was the thirty days immediately following the holiday of [[Yule]], running from modern 23 December to 21 January.<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>

==Etymology==

Frery represents Old English ''frēorig'' meaning "freezing".<ref>[[Jim Allan]] (ed.) ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', Giving of Names, p. 227</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbit Calendar]]
[[Category:Bree Calendar]]
[[Category:Eastfarthing Calendar]]
[[de:Auenland-Kalender#Monate]]

Template:Breemonths

2013-02-21T13:17:33Z

OldakQuill: Create box

{| align="right" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:15px; border:1px solid #ccccff;background-color:white;"
! bgcolor="#ccccff" | Months in the [[Bree Calendar]]
|-
|
# [[Frery]]* (January)
# [[Solmath]] (February)
# [[Rethe]] (March)
# [[Chithing]]* (April)
# [[Thrimidge]] (May)
# [[Lithe]]* (June)
# [[Mede]]* (July)
# [[Wedmath]] (August)
# [[Harvestmath]]* (September)
# [[Wintring]]* (October)
# [[Blooting]]* (November)
# [[Yulemath]]* (December)

<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>''Differ from Shire names.''</small>
|}
<noinclude>[[Category:Calendars and events templates|{{PAGENAME}}]]</noinclude>

Mede

2013-02-21T13:09:47Z

OldakQuill: Redirect from alternative name

#REDIRECT [[Afterlithe]]

Chithing

2013-02-21T13:07:53Z

OldakQuill: Redirect from alternative name

#REDIRECT [[Astron]]

Frery

2013-02-21T13:06:23Z

OldakQuill: Redirect from alternative name

#REDIRECT [[Afteryule]]

Barazinbar

2013-02-21T10:04:10Z

OldakQuill: Add mithril mining & Durin's Bane

'''Barazinbar''' is the [[Khuzdul]] name for '''Redhorn'''<ref>{{HM|TI}}, p. 174</ref>, named [[Caradhras]] in [[Sindarin]]. During the reign of [[Durin VI]], the dwarves of [[Khazad-dûm]] mined beneath Baranzinbar seeking [[mithril]]. In doing so, they woke [[Durin's Bane]].<ref>{{App|A3}}</ref>

It was also called '''[[Baraz]]''' meaning "Red".
==Etymology==
From the elements ''[[baraz]]'' "red" and ''[[-inbar]]'' (individually perhaps *''nibar''<ref>[http://www.forodrim.org/daeron/md_khuzdul.html An analysis of Dwarvish] by [[Magnus Åberg]]</ref>) meaning "horn".
{{references}}
[[Category:Khuzdul words]]

User:OldakQuill

2013-02-21T09:57:09Z

OldakQuill: Link to Wikipedia profile

Long-time Wikipedia editor. See my profile there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:OldakQuill

Baraz-inbar

2013-02-21T09:55:13Z

OldakQuill: Hyphenated form appears in ebook edition of LoTR, Appendix A

#REDIRECT [[Barazinbar]]