The New Year brings with it the annual Tolkien Birthday Toast, celebrated the world over by fans of Tolkien’s work.
Here is how the Tolkien Birthday Toast works. At 9 pm your local time on January 3, do the following:
- Stand,
- Raise a glass of your choice of drink (it does not need to be alcoholic),
- Say “The Professor!”
- Take a sip of your drink.
Following the toast, sit back down and enjoy the rest of your drink. You may like to add to the occasion by sharing your thoughts about Tolkien with friends and family or read some of your favorite passages. This occasion always prompts me to reflect with wonder and deep gratitude on my own Fellowship: fellow Tolkien fans who have become like family. Tolkien’s work brought us together and forged bonds deeper than a shared interest. Truly, a star shone upon the hour of our meeting.
For all of us who cherish Tolkien’s work, the annual Tolkien Birthday Toast is an opportunity to gather in spirit to honor the man who created the wonderful universe of Arda.
What are your thoughts on the day of Professor Tolkien’s birthday? Tell us in the comments below, and join us in raising a glass to “The Professor!”
