4. Thirty-three & 5. Birthday Presents

Two quotes today to make up for missing yesterday...

4. "At that time Frodo was still in his tweens, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three" (29).

5. "Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays.  Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system.  Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater every day in the year was somebody's birthday, so that every hobbit in those parts had a fair chance of at least one present at least once a week.  But they never got tired of them" (35).

Look no further than the first chapter, "A Long-Expected Party" (I've always loved the play on the title to the first chapter of The Hobbit, an "Unexpected Party"), for evidence of the hobbits' simplicity as a people.  The chapter is full of details of the vast pleasures they take in simple things.

But the two quotes I've chosen today have to do with hobbit birthdays.  I think they've got it right on both counts: let's be honest, no one is really all that grown-up at eighteen, or even at twenty-eight, speaking for my own generation.  It takes the twenties to figure out adulthood... thirty-three really sounds quite right for a real "coming-of-age."

As far as birthday presents, it sounds like the hobbits have got us beat: a small present every week adds up to much more than a few on your birthday!  Not to mention the rather generous and gracious nature of giving gifts away on one's own birthday.  (As a side note, I've always wondered if Gollum's famous "birthday present," the ring, was one he received on his birthday or someone else's...).

So it's settled: for my thirty-third birthday in two years, I'll celebrate hobbit style: a party for my "coming of age," and presents for my guests.


"Tolkien 365" is a (hopefully) daily reflection on a quote from the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, beginning with The Lord of the Rings and branching into his other writings as opportunity and inspiration allow.  Comments are especially welcome.  Page references are from the hardcover American Second Edition, published by Houghton Mifflin.