3 Ways To Celebrate Hobbit Day

Mae govannen, Collectors.

Although a majority of our writing focuses on comics, television, and film, the fandom that is nearest and dearest to my heart is Middle-earth. Today, we celebrate what is widely known as Hobbit Day, called such because it is the birthday for Tolkien’s two most famous protagonists: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. If you’re secretly a Hobbit, or just really really really wish that Middle-earth was real, here’s a few ways to celebrate your favorite Bagginses in style.

Eat Like a Hobbit

If you’ve read the books, or seen the films, you know that hobbits love food. Meals for a hobbit: breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. And, probably, a few pints of ale. So, tuck in, and get your favorite tea and biscuits going. Or, if you’re so inclined, try out a Middle-Earth recipe such as this one for lembas (Elvish bread).

Brush Up On Your Middle-earth Knowledge

No better way to celebrate the hobbits than by dusting off your copies of Tolkien’s The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings and reading while you snack on your lembas bread. Or, of course, you could always pop in the Blu-ray and settle in for the twelve-hour marathon. If you will be stuck in the office, like me, you can still get your Tolkien fix by listening to him read selections of his writing, such as this clip of him reading “Riddles in the Dark” from The Hobbit. (Fun fact: this clip includes what Professor Tolkien thinks Gollum sounds like.)

Gift Giving, Hobbit Style

It is the tradition of hobbits to give their guests presents on their birthdays, so be like a Baggins and buy your coworker a cup of coffee, or take your mother out to dinner. Hobbits are well known to appreciate the simpler things in life, and giving gifts for the sake of being generous is one of those things. Just, you know, be wary of giving anyone a gold ring of questionable origins.