Of Hobbits
by Aeneas2
“Hobbits truly are amazing creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.” That quote from Gandalf perfectly illustrates the race of Hobbits. They are a relatively simple folk that always manage to have a few surprises in store for even the wisest lore master. Hopefully, this article will teach you something about this most fascinating race: one that is remarkably similar, yet subtly different from our own.
As a people, Hobbits have been around for a very long time. They are unobtrusive and peace loving, yet they are still capable of fighting when the situation requires it. Hobbits are generally shy, and have taken to avoiding humans, who they call “the Big Folk”. Despite this, Hobbits are generally merry and good-natured. The typical Hobbit is short by our measure, usually between two and four feet in height. There are three notable exceptions to this rule: Bandobras “Bullroarer” Took, Peregrin Took, and Meriadoc Brandybuck. Hobbits are also generally not extremely stocky, although their habit of eating six meals a day could allow a few of the elder ones to surpass even a Dwarf in size. Hobbits rarely wore shoes (or any other type of footwear for that matter) due to the tough soles and curly hair that covered their feet.
As a race, Hobbits are generally divided into three distinct branches: the Fallohides, Harfoots, and Stoors. The Fallohides generally lived further north then their Harfoot and Stoor cousins. As such, they were lighter of skin and hair, as well as taller then the others. The Fallohides possessed a deep love of woodlands, and they achieved a greater level of friendship with the Elves then most other Hobbits. However, Fallohides were less numerous then the Harfoots and Stoors. This led many of them to mix with the other Hobbits. A primary example of this is the strong Fallohidish qualities found in some of the great families of the Shire, such as the Tooks.
The Harfoots are generally considered the most “normal” Hobbits. This is probably a result of their greater numbers then the other two branches. They possess somewhat darker skin then the others, as well as the trait of generally being shorter. Harfoots generally settled in one area and stayed for quite a while, unlike their more nomadic Fallohide and Stoor relations.
The Stoors had a stockier build then the other Hobbits, but they differ from the other two varieties in one other major way. Having lived along the Anduin and many other rivers for many years, the Stoors could generally swim. (The very idea struck fear into the hears of the Harfoots, and even the Fallohides avoided the thought whenever possible) As such, the Stoors took up many activities that most other Hobbits did not practice. (e.g. the use of boats, fishing, etc) It is also thought that Sméagol was a Stoor, or at least, closely related to them.
Although Hobbits have lived (and indeed, continue to live) in other places, the chief residence of the Hobbits is a land called the Shire. However, it is not a particularly ancient dwelling of theirs, having first been inhabited by a group of Hobbits led by the brothers Marcho and Blanco, in the year 1601 of the Third Age. The Shire is bordered by the Baranduin (Brandywine) River in the East and the Far Downs in the West. Moors and marshes form the Northern and Southern borders.
Being a peaceful people that generally behaved well, the Hobbits did not form much of a government. There was virtually no written law, but a set of unwritten laws, called “The Rules”, were generally followed. In fact, only two offices were prominent in the Shire: the office of Thain and the office of Mayor of Michel Delving (also called Mayor of the Shire).
The office of Thain, although it did possess several powers, rarely ended up being much more then a dignity (one typically passed on through the Took family). The Thainship was primarily a military office, due to the Thain being Master of the Shire-moot, Captain of the Shire-muster, as well as Captain of the Hobbitry-in-arms. However, as only in emergencies (which were exceedingly rare) were the moot and muster held, the Thain ended up not commanding much power on all by the most serious occasions.
The Mayoralty of Michel Delving was the other office of the Shire. Elected every seven years at Midsummer, the Mayor had three primary responsibilities: to manage the Messenger Service, to manage the Sheriffs, and to preside at banquets. The Messenger Service was the larger of the two services provided by the government (the other being the Sheriff force).
Hobbits possessed many customs, some similar, some different from our own. One of their most obvious customs is the habit of living in holes. In fact, it is believed that at one time, all Hobbits lived in holes, although may have since discontinued the practice. Toward the end of the Third Age, the primary residents of holes were the richest Hobbits and the poorest Hobbits. This may seem odd until you look at the matter further. As hills that were suitable for the building of holes were rather limited, the cost of such was too high for many Hobbits. However, the poorest Hobbits did not have the financial means to purchase or build anything fancy, so they ended up living in holes that all other Hobbits considered below their dignity. Hobbit architecture was centered around low, long buildings (and holes). Circular windows and doors were also primary aspects of Hobbit architecture.
The race of Hobbits developed a rather clannish nature, which led to dwellings frequently occupied by extended families, often of multiple generations. This nature also lead to the one section of history appealing to them: that of their families. The making of huge, elaborate family trees was a favorite pastime of the Hobbits. They took great delight in such dealings, and it is recommended that you do not question a Hobbit about his/her genealogy unless you have a great deal of time and a considerable amount of patience.
Another dangerous topic around Hobbits is that of food. It would seem that Hobbits are constantly hungry (as evidenced by their practice of eating six meals a day). Perhaps the favorite food among Hobbits were mushrooms. Not even the human with the greatest love of mushrooms could claim to enjoy them more.
Two aspects of Hobbit culture that are reflected in our own are that of hosting birthday parties and the collecting of various items that serve no immediate purpose, known as mathoms. These two aspects may seem unrelated until you look a bit further. Over time, a Hobbit would build up a rather large number of mathoms, and would eventually tire of looking for more storage space. Therefore, the custom of giving away birthday presents (usually former mathoms) at your own birthday party (a twist on the human custom), was developed. It may seem odd, but as a system, it worked surprisingly well.
There is another custom of Hobbits that might prove recognizable to the Big Folk: that of smoking. Hobbits were the first to come up with the idea of putting the burning leaves of a certain plant, pipe-weed, as they called it, into a pipe. (Hence the name, pipe-weed) The first pipe-weed was grown by Tobold Hornblower, around 1070 S.R., in an area of the Southfarthing called Longbottom. Where he learned of the plant is unknown, but it is suspected that he came across it in his time spent near Bree. The best pipe-weed still reportedly comes from the Southfarthing, with the Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, and Southern Star being well known varieties.
Like any other civilized people, Hobbits developed a calendar of their own. This calendar consisted of twelve months, each with 30 days. The months, in order of occurrence are: Afteryule, Solmath, Rethe, Astron, Thrimidge, Forelithe, Afterlithe, Wedmath, Halimath, Winterfilth, Blotmath, and Foreyule. Five additional days were part of the Shire calendar, although not part of any month. They are 2 Yule (the first day of the year, occurring before Afteryule), 1 Lithe (the day after Forelithe), Overlithe (the day after 1 Lithe, occurring only on leap years), 2 Lithe (the day following either 1 Lithe or Overlithe, immediately proceeding Afterlithe), and 1 Yule (the last day of the year, occurring after Foreyule).
In addition to their calendar, the Hobbits also developed a unique way of counting years: from the foundation of the Shire. This method is appropriately called Shire Reckoning (S.R.). The Shire was founded in 1601 of the Third Age (according to the reckoning of Elves and Men), and thus Year 1 in the Shire Reckoning corresponds with 1601 in the records of Elves and Men.
At the end of the Third Age, Hobbits did not have a language of their own, having adapted the Common Speech. In fact, there is no record of Hobbits ever possessing a language peculiar to themselves. In ancient times, Hobbits generally used the language(s) spoken by Men that resided nearby. Evidence of this theory is found in the origin of the very word Hobbit, which is thought to have been derived from the word “holbytla” (hole-dweller), in the language of Rohan.
Despite their lack of a language of their own, Hobbits have written a good number of famous works, some of which are listed here. The Red Book of Westmarch is by far the most famous, for it comprises The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Bilbo and Frodo Baggins wrote the book as a record of their adventures. Other famous books include The Thain’s Book (a famous copy of the Red Book of Westmarch), Translations from Elvish, Herblore of the Shire, Reckoning of Years, the Tale of Years, and Old Words and Names in the Shire.
The first written record we have of Hobbits is in the year 1050 of the Third Age. This event is the coming of the Harfoots to Eriador over the Misty Mountains. They are followed one century later by the Fallohides. The Stoors settle in Dunland instead of continuing north with the other Hobbits. The settlement of Bree by Hobbits is though to have begun about 1300 T.A. In 1356, the Stoors leave Dunland, and some return east over the mountains.
The Shire is founded by a group of Hobbits lead by two brothers named Marcho and Blanco, in 1601 T.A. They are joined by a group of Stoors coming north a few decades later. In 1636 the Great Plague sweeps through Middle Earth and kills many (including Hobbits). The Hobbits live in relative calm for the next three centuries until the fall of Arnor in 1974. The Hobbits reportedly sent a group of bowmen to the final battle at Fornost. Fortunately, the fall of the Northern Kingdom did not affect the Hobbits of the Shire too much.
The office of Thain was founded five years later, in 1979, to help compensate for the lack of military leadership caused by the fall of Arnor. Bucca of the Marish was the first to hold this office. The first Took Thain was Isumbras I in 2340. Buckland is occupied by the Oldbucks (they later became the Brandybucks) in the same year. In 2683, Isengrim II, the tenth Thain, begins the excavation of the Great Smials.
Pipe-weed is first planted around 2670. In 2447, Bandobras “Bullroarer” Took defeats an invasion of Orcs, inventing the game of golf in the process. (Not bad for a day’s work) A trouble of another kind is found eleven years later, in the form of the Long Winter. However, suffering in the Shire is lessened due to the aid of Gandalf. Little noteworthy happens (in the Shire) during the next century and a half or so, until the birth of Gerontius (the Old Took), in 2790. He is followed one century later by Bilbo Baggins. 2911 however, brings fresh peril in the form of the Fell Winter. Many rives, including the Baranduin (Brandywine), are frozen over. The frozen rivers are followed by an invasion of White Wolves. Yet, despite this great trouble, the Hobbits persevere
2920 T.A. brings the death of the Old Took, his lifespan being surpassed only by that of Bilbo Baggins. 2941 holds the Quest of Erebor and the slaying of Smaug the dragon. Bilbo becomes rather famous, and more importantly, he recovers the One Ring. This he brings back to the Shire in the following year. (Much to the dismay of the Sackville-Bagginses)
Frodo Baggins is born in 2968, and Samwise Gamgee in 2983. The farewell feast and departure of Bilbo from the Shire occur in 3001. He ends up settling in Rivendell the following year. Before he left, Bilbo gave the Ring to Frodo, who safeguards it until 3018, when he flees to Rivendell. The Great Years (3018 & 3019) hold many momentous events, including the downfall of Sauron, and the destruction of the One Ring. However, I will not record their events here. Those seeking further information on the topic are encouraged to look here.
With that, I will end this article. Hopefully you have learned something from it, but more importantly, I hope that you have enjoyed reading it.
References
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien