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Tolkien Reading Day

Hobby · March 25

A day for reading the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to his lesser-known tales, marked in the United States too.

Tolkien Reading Day falls on Thursday, March 25, 2027. That is 149 days away.

Tolkien Reading Day is about picking up something by J.R.R. Tolkien and reading it, ideally out loud, ideally with company. It is marked in many countries, and readers in the United States take part too, in libraries, classrooms and living rooms.

Most people start with The Hobbit, a story about a comfortable homebody pulled into an adventure he did not ask for. Others return to The Lord of the Rings, which is long enough that a single chapter can feel like a respectable afternoon. Tolkien was a scholar of old languages, and it shows. His books are full of invented tongues, songs, maps and family trees, and plenty of readers flip to the appendices before they finish the story.

Reading aloud suits his writing well. The songs and poems scattered through the books were meant to be heard, and a walking song lands differently when someone actually says it. Groups often take turns with favorite passages, and some readers pick a theme, such as friendship or the comforts of home, and choose scenes that fit it.

There is also a quieter side of his work to explore: short tales, letters and stories written for his own children. Any of these makes a good entry point for someone who has only seen the films.

A cup of tea and a second breakfast are traditional among hobbits, and few readers object to following their lead.

Ways to celebrate

• Read a favorite Tolkien passage aloud to a friend or family member.
• Try one of his shorter tales or poems you have not read before.
• Look for a reading event at your local library.
• Share a quote from The Hobbit with someone who loves the books.
• Trace a journey on one of the maps included in the books.

Dates

Categories: Hobby days