The Hobbit, and the Trilogy Lord Of The Rings, is the greatest work of J.R.R.Tolkien. September 22nd is the birthday of two major characters in the series, Bilbo Baggins, and Frodo Baggins. If you haven’t read the series, you really should, though the movies are pretty good, the books are better.
It all starts when Bilbo ends up with a “precious” ring that can make one invisible, but as it is worn it turns them towards the dark side. Put in the hands of a human or a dwarf, the world would probably be doomed – since the dark side is trying to take over the world – but it ends up in the hands of a Hobbit who has a bit more moral stamina than any other race.
If the ring falls into the hands of the ultimate bad wizard, the world is lost. It is up to Bilbo to keep that from happening. He gets the aid of a good wizard, human warriors, dwarves and Elves, all who want to save the world, but are also tempted by the ring. At the end of the Hobbit, Bilbo is successful but retains the ring to keep it safe.
However, the darkside won’t stop and it threatens once again after Bilbo is too old to continue the quest and Frodo takes over for him. I won’t give away the ending, though most of you probably know it anyway, but if you don’t, read the books, they are well worth your effort.
Tolkien died in 1973, the year Hobbit Day was first celebrated. It did not catch on at first but eventually the U.S. County Courthouse, followed by the White House, and then the U.S. Capitol recognized the day (probably started by the American Tolkien Society). It finally got the recognition it deserved in 1978 and has been celebrated on September 22nd every year there after.
There is a little question about the actual date since the Gregorian Calendar and the Shire Calendar is slightly different (a Shire is the village a Hobbit lives in).
How to celebrate: Read, or re-read, the Hobbit. Get some popcorn and watch the movies (you’ll need a really big bag of popcorn). Dress up like a Hobbit and go to work.
Unboxing the Bizarre™ 