#tolkienfolkloreweek

🧚 A weeklong celebration of legends, lore, and faërie in Middle-earth

Tag: #TolkienFolkloreWeek2025

Date: December 1st – 7th (for when best to tell old tales than in winter?)

Have you ever imagined Lúthien as the fairest of them all — a hunted daughter with raven hair, echoing Snow White of the Brothers Grimm?

Or seen Yavanna, born of blossoms and divine power, in the image of Blodeuwedd from the Mabinogion?

Have you thought of Gandalf as Odin wandering in disguise? Or Fëanor as a fallen craftsman god, not unlike Prometheus?

If you’ve ever been drawn to the myths behind Middle-earth — the fairytales, epics, legends, and old gods that shaped Tolkien’s world — this is your invitation.

This is Tolkien Fairytale & Folklore Week 2025 — where we return to the stories beneath the stories. Where Middle-earth meets myths, epics, hearth-tales, and the whispering woods of old.

🌿 What is this?

A creative fandom event celebrating Tolkien’s legendarium through the lens of:

🏰 Fairytales (classic, dark, and global)

🐉 Folklore (rural myths, local legends, old wives’ tales)

📜 Mythology (Norse, Arthurian, Greek, Celtic, Hindu, African, and more)

⚔️ Ancient epics (Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Mahabharata, etc.)

Middle-earth was a mythology, after all — and Tolkien loved the tales that came before it. This week is about reimagining and rediscovering those mythic roots, through fanworks of all kinds.

✨ What can I create?

Fanfiction

Fanart

Edits / moodboards / aesthetics

Meta / headcanons

Original poetry / songs

Playlists

Worldbuilding

Cosplay / crafts / anything that tells a story!

No need to follow a daily prompt schedule — use as many or as few as you like!

📌 Follow this blog for reblogs, prompts, and updates!

Summary: The traditions of the House of Dol Amroth say little of Mithrellas, and even less of her true nature (written for @tolkienfolkloreweek).

Rating: G

Word Count: 2.7k

There were tales among the Men of Dol Amroth of women of the sea—foam-maidens, they named them, for of course they were always maidens. In the tales, they dwelt deep beneath the sea, far past the Bay of Belfalas, with hair like the spray of seafoam and arms that glistened like the luster of pearls and tails that glinted silver beneath the waves. With the flash of their eyes and the wild chant of their songs, they lured men beneath the waves and into the catacombs of their caves far below. 

They came at times into the bay, or so the stories said, to perch upon the rocks and comb their hair and tempt men to follow them, and those brave or foolhardy enough to follow met sorry ends. Still more tales abounded of men who had thought to trap them, to lure them to the shore and make them their brides, and had woken in the night to find pools of water glistening upon the floor, and silver scales glittering among them. That none had ever seen a foam-maiden did not dissuade the men from their stories.

Mithrellas listened to the tales with patient scorn. If any such woman was to be found, she would already have been seized, for if there was something men could take, in thought or deed, and name it a prize, they would.

She was not a foam-maiden, but she was of the Eldar, and therefore a prize, a treasure to be kept within the white walls of the city, little permitted to stray afar for fear of meeting peril.

Once upon a time, long ago, there lived in a little village somewhere along the river Withywindle a poor shoemaker. He had little to live on and had to toil day and night to earn his meagre keep, but he was an honest, kindly man, and so the folk of the village had taken a liking to him.

In that same village there lived a fisherman who had a daughter. She was fair to look upon, with hair spun of gold, cheeks like roses, and eyes the colour of rain. Every day she would play by the river, tossing her red ball high into the air and catching it again, or dancing through the swaying grasses on the bank, singing until she grew weary and fell laughing onto her back.

Read on Ao3.

Day 1 | December 1st | Magical Creatures

From dragons and werewolves to ents, eagles, and wargs — Middle-earth is filled with creatures drawn from deep myth. You can explore the beasts of Tolkien's world or borrow from outside lore: unicorns, selkies, kelpies, or kitsune. Are they protectors or predators, cursed or divine?

Day 2 | December 2nd | Gods and Mythologies

Tolkien’s Valar echo ancient pantheons. This is your day for gods, creators, prophets, angels, and archetypes — inspired by Norse, Greek, Hindu, Abrahamic, or other mythologies. Explore the Ainur, the Music of the Spheres, the afterlife, fate, and the mythic grandeur of Aman.

Day 3 | December 3rd | Fairytales

Tolkien called The Hobbit “a fairy story.” Retell classic fairytales in Middle-earth, or create your own: riddles in the dark, changelings, talking animals, curses, and transformations. Incorporate tales from around the world and reflect the many cultures of Arda.

Day 4 | December 4th | Arthuriana

Knights, castles, noble quests, betrayal, fate. Think of Aragorn’s return as king, the fall of Númenor as Camelot undone, or Galadriel as the Lady of the Lake. Explore themes of loyalty, exile, prophecy, and the weight of lineage. Wizards, swords, and star-crossed lovers welcome.

Day 5 | December 5th | Local Legends

From the Shire to Harad, every land in Arda has stories passed down in shadows. Write ghost tales told in Bree, riddles of the Rohirrim, or urban legends of Gondor. You can also bring in folklore from your own culture, region, or family — the tales your grandmother told, reimagined in Tolkien’s world.

Day 6 | December 6th | Epic Quests and Ancient Sagas

Inspired by Beowulf, the Odyssey, Mahabharata, and other foundational epics. Tell of great journeys, slaying of monsters, trials of strength and mind, exile, homecoming, or the cost of glory. How does the tale change depending on who tells it? What is forgotten, and what becomes legend?

Day 7 | December 7th | Objects and Relics

"The Dwarves brought a strange tale from the Lonely Mountain," he began, once they were far enough that the splashing of the fountains was drowned by the roaring falls. "They say that Thorin Oakenshield is not dead, but merely rests—like Durin. A sleeping king beneath the Mountain."

Elrond smoothed the violet sleeve of his robe. He sounded amused. "You know that is not possible."

"Of course. But they told another tale besides." Glorfindel, in his agitation, had walked a bit too quickly and now had to wait for Elrond’s measured steps to catch up. "They say his sword has left the Mountain. The sleeping king relinquished it, that the rightful heir might come into its possession. They say it lies at the bottom of the Long Lake, waiting for a worthy one to draw it forth."

In which Orcrist is Excalibur. But who is the Lady of the Lake?

Read on Ao3.

But the beast had been making fools of them for nearly a week now, and even the Elves were losing patience. Elrohir’s hair clung damply to his face from the rain, and again and again he made an irritable gesture to push it back. Elladan complained loudly every few hours about the mud on his boots and the water in his clothes. Only Ruinith tramped on beside them, silent and stoic, though discontent was reflected in her face as well.

“I suggest we find a house to sleep in this time,” Elladan announced over the drumming rain. “I shall not spend another night out of doors—especially not if it snows again.”

Aragorn grinned at him. He felt wet, weary, and filthy, but his spirits always lifted when he could tease an Elf. “First find a Man who will let you into his house in such a state. A sheep that has stood out in a field all day would be cleaner.”

Read on Ao3.

🗓️ When is the event?

December 1st – 7th. It's a weeklong celebration of Tolkien-inspired stories through the lens of fairytales, mythology, folklore, and epics.

💡 What kind of content is welcome?

Fic, art, edits, moodboards, playlists, meta, poetry, cosplay, crafts, worldbuilding headcanons — anything inspired by Tolkien’s works and the theme of fairytales and folklore!

🌍 Do I have to stick to European mythology?

Not at all. This event welcomes inspiration from global folklore, mythology, and oral traditions — from Irish and Norse tales to West African legends, Middle Eastern epics, Indigenous stories, and beyond. Middle-earth is vast — so reflect that richness!

📚 Which Tolkien works are allowed?

All of them — The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, Letters, and any part of the legendarium. Adaptations are welcome too.

📅 Do I have to post every day?

Nope! Post as much or as little as you like. You can use a single prompt, combine multiple, or post late — this is a low-pressure event.

🏷️ How do I tag my work?

Use the main tag #TolkienFolkloreWeek2025 in the first five tags of your post (on Tumblr). You can also add your work to the AO3 Collection (TolkienFolkloreWeek2025).

🧚 Can I reinterpret existing myths using Tolkien characters?

Absolutely — that’s part of the fun. You can retell myths or fairytales (like “Hades and Persephone” or “The Wild Hunt”) using Tolkien characters, or frame Tolkien tales in those narrative styles.

📝 Are original characters or AUs allowed?

Yes! As long as it’s Tolkien-adjacent (set in Arda, inspired by the legendarium, etc.), you’re welcome to explore.

📏 ✨Rules and Guidelines✨

Be respectful. No hate speech, bigotry, or harassment.

Use the tag #TolkienFolkloreWeek2025 so we can find and boost your work.

Credit sources for music, poetry, or artwork not your own if included in edits/playlists.

NSFW content should be tagged appropriately. Make sure it's behind cuts and includes proper warnings.

No AI-generated writing or art submissions. That should be clear in itself.

Late posts are welcome! Don’t worry about time zones or being a day behind — the spirit of the event is creativity, not deadlines.

Thanks for everyone who participated (actively and by reblogging). I really enjoyed everyone's creations. If you have any late entries, feel free to send them my way as well!