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Idhril
Joined: 24 Aug 2003
Posts: 15
Location: Oregon
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 Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 2:21 am Post subject: A question about Hobbits. |
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Sam and Rosie's wedding inspired me to write a wedding scene of my own. One problem, though. I have no idea what's involved in a Hobbit wedding ceremony. I know that at the reception, there would be plenty of drinking, dancing and smoking. But what about the actual ceremony?
Please provide details. 
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Varda
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 7:48 am Post subject: |
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I do believe there is no source of canon material to provide such details.
The marriages are very briefly mentioned in the books (couple sentences at most) - nothing like the scene with Bilbo's Birthday. You have to remember that Hobbits only appear in the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings (the Silmarillion is pretty much empty of them, and it is the most likely material wise to contain a brief glimpse at a marriage in one of the many romantic stories - but those are all of Men and Elves). And the Hobbit is a tale about adventure and the gaining of the ring (besides I do believe there were no marriages in the book period), while LOTR is a tale about the destruction of the ring - everything that happens afterwards (except for the Scouring of the Shire) is pretty much either very condensed (historical format) or even in the Appendices - which are even more condensed - often placing the entire ruling span of a King within a couple sentences - or only even mentioning his name, father, date of ascension and death.
Basically, you'll have to be inventive with this. Whatever fits the atmosphere of the Shite and Hobbits will do. Following English Medieval and/or Peasant/Country custom is probably one idea - whether this will actually work is another matter. I don't think there's anything you can do besides writing your interpretation of a wedding scene and waiting for some positive and/or negative reviews from others (and/or your pre-readers).
May the stars ever shine down upon thee from above. |
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Andreth
Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 1211
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: A question about Hobbits. |
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| Idhril wrote: | Sam and Rosie's wedding inspired me to write a wedding scene of my own. One problem, though. I have no idea what's involved in a Hobbit wedding ceremony. I know that at the reception, there would be plenty of drinking, dancing and smoking. But what about the actual ceremony?
Please provide details. |
Fortunately, I know a scant amount, since somebody else was asking about this some time ago. I'll just copy my other post here:
[The only place I can remember Hobbit weddings being mentioned is in Letters #214 - a footnote says: "No presents were given at or during the celebration of Hobbit weddings, except flowers (weddings were mostly in the Spring or early Summer). Assistance in furnishing a home (if the couple were to have a separate one, or private apartments in a Smial) was given long before by the parents on either side."
The next page of text just has a short mention - "As far as I know Hobbits were universally monogamous (indeed they very seldom married a second time, even if wife or husband died very young); and I should say that their family arrangements were 'patrilinear' rather than patriarchal. That is, their family names descended in the male-line (and women were adopted into their husband's name)... " It also says that the Shire-folk's "kinship to their sentiment and customs was assisted by detailed traditions, written and oral." One interesting thing that's mentioned about Hobbit birthday presents is that they were always given no later than noon the day of the party. To bring presents to the party itself was considered a glaring lack of manners. I thought that was an odd custom.
Sorry it's not more, but I hope it helps. Good luck!]
And another thing I can add is that Tolkien says Hobbits didn't have any religious customs, other than those Hobbits who had a good deal of contact with the Elves like Sam and Frodo. And even then it was mostly limited to calling on Elbereth and the like. So more than likely, no type of Valar/Eru references would have been used in the ceremony either, but that's just speculation on my part.  |
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Idhril
Joined: 24 Aug 2003
Posts: 15
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:53 am Post subject: Yet ANOTHER question. |
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What can I say? I'm inquisitive. 
Anyway, I was wondering if someone could tell me the name of a town that is close to Hobbiton, but not too close. Perhaps about 20 miles, maybe 50?
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