Tolkien Reading Day

Tolkien Reading Day is celebrated every year on March 25. It is an occasion for fans around the world to pay tribute to the works of the famous British writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

History of Tolkien Reading Day

In 2002, Sean Kirst, a journalist, was writer of an article about J.R.R. Tolkien and asked the Tolkien Society why there was no international reading day for Tolkien like the one for James Joyce. In response, the Tolkien Society decided to establish Tolkien Reading Day. Its first celebration was in 2003.

On Tolkien Reading Day, fans are encouraged to read their favorite passages from his books to honor the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Schools, libraries and museums are encouraged to organize events during the day and to use Tolkien's works in general education, beyond the day. The Tolkien Association suggested that it could be held before March 25 for more convenience.

The birthday of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was on January 3rd 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. As a professor, philologist and writer - especially in the fantasy genre - he is perhaps best known for writing the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which became one of the oldest book of the twentieth century. Having sold tens of millions of copies, these books have inspired the creation of high-class fantasy literature, a genre of modern fantasy literature where the plot takes place in a world that is invention and prominently the theme of good and evil.

After being three years old, Tolkien visited England with his mother and brother. Not long after his fourth birthday, news came that his father, Arthur Reuel, had passed away in South Africa. His family chose to stay in England, and settled in the West Midlands, outside Birmingham. They converted to Catholicism soon after. After Tolkien's mother, Mabel, died when he was 12 years old, a Catholic priest, Father Francis, took care of him and his brother.

In 1911, Tolkien came Exeter College, Oxford. He received his second degree in Honors Mode two years later, when he was completing half of his Classics course. He switched his studies to English Language and Literature and obtained a first class degree in June 1915. He then fought on the Western Front in World War I, taking part in the Battle of the Somme. After contracting oyster fever, he spent a month in the hospital and was able to go home for Christmas. He resumed his relationship with Edith Bratt in 1914 and was reunited with her after the war.

By his training, Tolkien was a philologist, and he was fluent in many languages, including Gothic, Welsh, and Finnish. His specialty is Old and Medieval English. After being an assistant lexicographer for the New English Dictionary, Tolkien put his philology into practice. By the summer of 1920 he had become a reader - of a similar nature to an associate professor - of English Language at the University of Leeds.

Together with the University of Leeds teacher, E.V. Gordon, he worked on an edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knights and founded a "Viking Club" for undergraduates where old Nordic sagas were shared and enjoyed beer. Tolkien and Gordon wrote Songs for Writers for the club. In 1925, he became Rawlinson and Bosworth, a Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. A few years later, he formed a literary group with friends in Oxford called "The Inklings", which included Hugo Dyson, Nevill Coghill, Owen Barfield and C.S. Lewis, they became best friends.

His first work of fiction was The Hobbit, which originated from a story he told his young children about a Hobbit who lived in a hole named Bilbo Baggins. He began sharing his story, and in 1936 an unfinished copy reached someone who worked at a publishing company. They asked him to finish it, he did, and it was published the following year, which became an instant hit. After that, Tolkien recommended Silmarillion to a company for publication, however, they denied because they thought it was not commercially viable. Instead, they asked him to write a sequel to the Hobbit.

The Lord of the Rings was divided into three parts between 1954 and 1955: The Fellowship of the Ring was released in 1954, and The Two Towers and The Return of the King came out in 1955. The trio was inspired by European mythology, and Tolkien created maps, languages, and legends for it. Many of his works, including The Lord of the Rings, take place in a prehistoric invented world known as "Middle-earth". The world is made up of Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Goblin-like Orcs, Trolls, Hobbits and talking trees called Ents.

The first print of the trilogy was in hardcover. Although successful, it did not attract his attention later. The BBC condensed the story into 12 episodes on their Third Show, helping to spread its popularity. It wasn't until a paperback edition was printed in 1965 that awareness of the trilogy gained wider publicity, and it became a global bestseller. It helped develop the literary fantasy genre, and a large following has since followed Tolkien: there are Tolkien clubs, and his followers even learn the language he created. While alive, he was embraced by some countercultures because of his interest in environmental issues.

Tolkien wrote many other scholarly articles, stories and essays during his lifetime. After leaving Oxford in 1959, he moved with Edith to the seaside resort city of Bournemouth. After Edith's death on 29 November 1971, Tolkien returned to Oxford and transferred to Merton College. He died on September 2, 1973 at his 81 ages.

Among his other posthumous publications were Unfinished Stories of Númenor and Middle-earth, published in 1980, and 12 volumes A History of Middle-earth. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been adapted into films. Writer-director Peter Jackson adapted The Lord of the Rings into a trilogy in the early 2000s. They were hugely successful with the public and have also been nominated for and won numerous Academy Awards. Later, Jackson had converted The Hobbit into a three-part film, which was released between 2012 and 2014.

Beyond cinema, The Lord of the Rings has left its mark in theatre, radio, video games, artwork, music, and other mediums, helping to ensure that its legacy and cult around Tolkien will continue to exist forever. Tolkien also has several holidays for him, Tolkien Reading Day is an example. On this day, his books are read and related events are held, which further illuminates his legacy.

Why Tolkien Reading Day

Why don't we celebrate the works of the great English writer, academic, philologist and poet, Johan Ronald Reuel Tolkien? He is a wonderful person who explored the Utopian world in a different and wonderful way. He has a huge fan base for the works "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

Every year, on March 25, avid readers around the world honor the famous writer JRR Tolkien, by spending the day reading his works or at least a few passages from his books. This date was chosen as Tolkien Reading day because on this day the fall of the Lord of the Rings, i.e. Sauron, and also the Tower of Shadows or Barad-Dûr took place.

JRR Tolkien's works are mostly classical, and they are the best. His best classics include “The Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit,” “Farmer Giles of Ham,” and many more. His works are so good that "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" have been made into movies and these movies, like the books, have received a great and wonderful response.

To honor the life of JRR Tolkien and his incredible works, his fans, both books and films, take this day to remember him and honor him by doing great things. It's nice to spend a whole day reading the works of JRR Tolkien.

How Can We Observe National Tolkien Reading Day?

This great National Day can be celebrated in many ways. Here are a few ways you can get through March 25^th.

• Quiz on JRR Tolkien

On this day you can invite your friends and acquaintances and take a quiz with interesting questions about JRR Tolkien and his works. This way, you can also spend quality time with your loved ones.

• Doodle it away

As we all know, Tolkien is a wonderful person who has drawn some amazing and unique doodles. You can also spend the day doodling and trying out a new skill. In this way, you honor the life and work of JRR Tolkien.

• Create challenge

You can challenge your friends or acquaintances to read the works or tell a few facts about John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on social media. You can challenge them with #NationalTolkienReadingDay.