As Amazon's new show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues to unfold, it's clear to see that now is a great time for Tolkien fans to explore more of Middle-earth. The show has received mixed reviews so far, but what remains certain is that there's so much about Middle-earth to celebrate.
From Tolkien's books to Peter Jackson's films, and every other production that's been created in relation to Tolkien's world, so much of it is great. People are often looking for an excuse to rewatch the movies, reread the books, or just generally engage with the material in some way. There are actually plenty of reasons to do so all throughout the year. These 10 days are perfect for unleashing your inner Tolkien geek.
January 3: J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday
What better way to start off the year than to celebrate the man behind it all. Tolkien gifted the world some wonderful stories with beautiful characters and stunning cultures and locations. Without him, fantasy as it exists today, simply wouldn't. He was the first to create such an epic lore and detailed story of this kind and there's a reason he is known as the 'Grandfather of fantasy'.
In appreciation for the creative mind that made a massive impact on pop culture, January 3 is an excellent time to buy Tolkien-related gifts for loved ones or for the self. Perhaps the best way to honor Tolkien would be to spend an afternoon in the wilderness among the trees and wildlife, as the Oxford professor was known to have loved.
March 25: Tolkien Reading Day
One of the most important days in the history of Middle-earth is March 25. It's the day that the Ring was destroyed, which ushered in a new age. In honor of that day, Tolkien Reading Day was established in 2003.
There isn't a better day all year to begin reading (or rereading) The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, or any other of Tolkien's brilliant works he authored throughout his lifetime. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, kick back, and enjoy a lovely day full of grand adventures coming to life from the page.
May 1: Aragorn's Coronation
Star Wars has a strong hold on the month of May, as May 4 is Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you). The following day is, of course, the revenge of the 5th. But hardcore Tolkien fans have their own day to celebrate in May.
May 1 marks the incredible day that Aragorn was deservedly crowned as King Elessar. In Middle-earth, this began a time of peace that lasted for years and years. Peace is a beautiful thing to strive for, and the first of May is a perfect day to remember just how important that goal is.
July 29: The Fellowship Of The Ring Book Anniversary
Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is fast approaching its 70th anniversary. This year marked 68 years since its publication! It seemed like the 50th anniversary edition was only released a couple of years ago.
For fans of Tolkien that are as dedicated as Sir Christopher Lee was, July 29th is the perfect day to begin an annual reread of Tolkien's masterful work. If, for any reason, fans missed their chance to pick up the book again on Tolkien Reading Day, the end of July is yet another chance to get on board with reading.
September 21: The Hobbit Book Anniversary
The first story to take place within Middle-earth was published all the way back in 1937. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is much more high-spirited than the rest of Tolkien's works about Middle-earth, and as such deserves an especially upbeat celebration.
Because Hobbit Day occurs on the very next day, September 21 could almost be treated as Hobbit Day Eve. As Bilbo and the rest of his kind greatly love food and drink (as well as pipe-weed), this day presents a great chance to cook up a delicious meal with satisfying drinks and partake in some merry times with fellow Tolkien fanatics.
September 22: Hobbit Day'
This is a most joyous day in the Shire, it may as well be so on Earth, too. September 22 is, of course, the birthday of both the esteemed Mr. Bilbo Baggins and his heroic cousin Frodo Baggins.
There's never a better time to party like a Hobbit. Fans can put on some beautiful Shire music, or perhaps listen to Howard Shore's excellent scores for The Lord of the Rings films (which are among the best soundtracks in cinema history). Other great ways to celebrate include setting off fireworks, eating endless courses of amazing food, and promptly falling asleep when the excitement dies down.
October 20: The Return Of The King Book Anniversary
The epic conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien's marvelous tale of Frodo and friends, and their quest to save Middle-earth arrived on October 20, 1955. As great as the story is, it's always sad for it to be over.
But endings also make great beginnings. If some fans are so inclined, they can choose to start the story over again, beginning with The Hobbit. But the reminder that October 20 marked the end of the journey in Middle-earth for the Fellowship means that new avenues open. Fans can move on to read Beren and Lúthien, The Children of Húrin, The Book of Lost Tales, and more! There's a lot to discover, including all the ways in which Tolkien borrowed from history in his writings.
October 31: Peter Jackson's Birthday
As important of a figure as Tolkien was and is, many people who enjoy his work were perhaps first introduced to him because of the incredible films that Peter Jackson and his team produced. The fantasy genre in literature was changed by Tolkien, but the fantasy genre in film was largely affected by Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.
For fans that aren't particularly keen on Halloween, a great alternate option for the night is to buy a boatload of candy for themselves, sit down on the couch, and watch the behind-the-scenes of The Lord of the Rings. There is so much hard work that Peter and his team did that's worthy of appreciation.
November 11: The Two Towers Book Anniversary
The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King get their own celebrations earlier in the year, so it's only fitting to prop up The Two Towers as well. There are plenty of opportunities to read as a form of celebration throughout the year, so maybe for this one something a little different should be in order.
There's no shortage of games that are inspired by Tolkien's work, and this day would provide a great excuse to plop down in front of the TV and fire up any of the remarkable Middle-earth video games. If fans prefer board games, there are plenty of options for that too, including Journeys in Middle-earth or Risk: The Lord of the Rings edition.
December 17-19: Film Trilogy Release Dates Anniversary
What better way to close out the year than watching the greatest film trilogy ever known to humankind! This year, The Two Towers will be celebrating its 20th anniversary, as the other two will reach their 19th and 21st.
It's a great time to invite some friends over, throw on the extended editions of all three films, and prepare to stay in one place for the next nine hours. Although, perhaps that's a bit much. In that case, take advantage of all three days in a row by watching one at a time. That ought to be a bit more manageable. Either way, it's bound to be a great time.