#wotd

In honor of the beginning of spring by the elven calendar, March 29th! 🌿🌷🪻🌦️

More in my linguistic resources tag! Let me know if there’s a topic you want me to cover!

The recorded elven calendar in Tolkien is called the Reckoning of Imladris although it presumably predates Imladris. 

The exact timing of when the peoples of Middle Earth started using certain calendars is somewhat unclear. It’s implied that the months used or at least a similar set were used by people in the first age as several birthdays in the Children of Húrin are given in those months. 

Six seasons are marked by the elves; spring, summer, autumn, fading, winter and stirring, with several days between them that are considered outside of theses.

Stirring (early spring), spring, harvest/late summer or early autumn and fading/late autumn last fifty four days each. Summer and winter last seventy two days each.

There are a number of days throughout the year that are not considered part of any season. These include Yestarë (Quenya) or Lestor (Sindarin) which is the year's first day and Middle Days in early autumn

The elven year begins on the twenty eighth of March.

Tuilë or ethuil (spring) began on March 29th and end May 21st

Lairë or Laer (summer) begins May twenty second and ends on August first.

Yávië or Iavas begins on August second and ends on September twenty fourth on the Gregorian calendar. The name means season of fruits or harvest season and is the equivalent of late summer into early autumn.

Following this are the Enderi or Middle Days. These are from September twenty fifth to twenty seventh though every twelve years they extend to the thirtieth of September. This is likely because of the original twelve based system of the Valinorean calendar.

Quellë or Firith (Fading) lasts from the twenty eighth of September to the twentieth of November

Hrívë or Rhîw (Winter) lasts from the twenty first of November to the thirty first of January.

Coirë or Echoir (Stirring or early spring) lasts from February First until March 27th.