Tolkien Reading Day
Mar 25
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
" ‘In this phial,’ she said, ‘is caught the light of Eärendil’s star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. Remember Galadriel and her Mirror!’ "
~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers, 1954
Lady Galadriel showed Frodo and Samwise her mirror, which was a basin of water from a nearby stream. Sam and Frodo saw scenes from the past and the future. When Sam looked into it, he saw that his home had been dug up and his father was alone; he wanted to go home. But the Mirror also showed him another possible future.
Galadriel's Mirror
Tolkien Reading Day is held on the 25th of March each year, organised by the Tolkien Society since 2003 to encourage fans to celebrate and promote the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien by reading favourite passages.
The 25th of March is the date of the downfall of the Lord of the Rings (Sauron) and the fall of Barad-dûr.
In the books, Galadriel is an elven Lady who witnessed Middle-earth during the Three Ages of the Sun.
Galadriel was born in Valinor as one of the Noldor, being the daughter of Finarfin and younger sister to Finrod Felagund (later King of Nargothrond), Angrod, and Aegnor. She took part in the Exile of the Noldor, supporting Fëanor. However she opposed the Kinslaying at Alqualondë and crossed the Helcaraxë with the rest of her group. After arriving in Beleriand, she lived in both Nargothrond and Doriath, the latter where she befriended Melian. Later, with her husband Celeborn, she ruled over the woodland Elves of Lothlórien, and together they had a daughter, Celebrían, who married Elrond.
For more on this year's Tolkien Reading Day theme, click Galadriel!