Yule: Difference between revisions

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'''Yule''' was the two days in the calendars of the [[Hobbits]] that marked the end of one year and the beginning of the next.<ref name="Shire">{{App|Shire}}</ref> On a modern calendar, they fell on the 21 and 22 December. Around them, the six-day festival of [[Yuletide]] was held, running from 29 [[Foreyule]] through 2 [[Afteryule]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>  
'''Yule''' was the two days in the calendars of the [[Hobbits]] that marked the end of one year and the beginning of the next.<ref name="Shire">{{App|Shire}}</ref> On a modern calendar, they fell on the 21 and 22 December. Around them, the six-day festival of [[Yuledays|Yuletide]] was held, running from 29 [[Foreyule]] through 2 [[Afteryule]].<ref>{{App|Calendars}}</ref>  


Due to a peculiarity of the [[Shire Calendar]], the Yuledays always fell on the same days of the week. The last day of the year, [[1 Yule]], was always a [[Highday]] (Friday), while the first day of the following year, [[2 Yule]], was always a [[Sterday]] (Saturday).<ref name="Shire"/>  
Due to a peculiarity of the [[Shire Calendar]], the Yuledays always fell on the same days of the week. The last day of the year, [[1 Yule]], was always a [[Highday]] (Friday), while the first day of the following year, [[2 Yule]], was always a [[Sterday]] (Saturday).<ref name="Shire"/>  

Revision as of 15:14, 8 September 2014

Yule was the two days in the calendars of the Hobbits that marked the end of one year and the beginning of the next.[1] On a modern calendar, they fell on the 21 and 22 December. Around them, the six-day festival of Yuletide was held, running from 29 Foreyule through 2 Afteryule.[2]

Due to a peculiarity of the Shire Calendar, the Yuledays always fell on the same days of the week. The last day of the year, 1 Yule, was always a Highday (Friday), while the first day of the following year, 2 Yule, was always a Sterday (Saturday).[1]

The formal use of Yule in the Shire calendar cannot, by definition, predate the foundation of the Shire in T.A. 1601. However, its appearance there represents a survival of an older tradition, and the name 'Yule' for a midwinter festival was known as far from the Shire as Rohan and Gondor.

Etymology

Yule is a translation of a Hobbitish word, not occurring in Westron.[3]

However it's possible that it derives from a form of Northern Mannish and later used in Rohirric. Since Gondorians of the Third Age were in part Northmen, the word was recognisable as a 'northern name' for the midwinter festival.[3]

In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's early conceptions of an Elven language, the word for "Yule(night), i.e. Log-night" is durufui. Tanfui means "Yule night".[4]

References