The Farewell Birthday Party,[1][2][3] or simply The Day or the Party, was a great celebration held in honor of Bilbo Baggins's 111st birthday, and Frodo's 33rd birthday and "Coming of Age".
History[]
Hobbits raising a toast to Bilbo at the Farewell Birthday Party, in the films
On September 22, 3001, Bilbo celebrated his eleventy-first birthday. He intended the party to be a grand event that Hobbits from all over the area would attend with some special invitations to others from farther away such as the Sackville-Bagginses. For a time, Bag End was even closed to callers except on "party business" only. It apparently took months to prepare, with letters of invitation being sent out as well as orders for party attractions and party favors of all kind. The party's other guest of honor was Frodo Baggins, who was also turning thirty-three on the same day. The birthday party was said to be an event of "special magnificence", featuring fireworks (created by the wizard Gandalf), presents given to everyone who attended (many of them made by Dwarves and the Men of Dale), and three official meals.
Gandalf's fireworks were very impressive to the hobbits, who hadn't seen their like since the Old Took died many years ago. Green trees with scented flowers, singing birds, eagles, and sailing ships were all effects created through Gandalf's work with colored smokes and lights. The finale was a large red-gold dragon that flew out of a mountain, breathing fire and circling over the Hobbits' heads, before exploding over Bywater. This was in honor of Bilbo's adventures during the Quest of Erebor and was also the signal for supper.
The cake
The meals were lunch, tea, and dinner/supper. There was a special family dinner party under a large pavilion. Guests at the special supper were primarily relatives of Bilbo and Frodo and a few special friends; only 144 people were invited, one gross, the sum of the ages of both Bilbo and Frodo, as of that day. At the end of the dinner feast, Bilbo made a Speech, slipped on the One Ring, and vanished, shocking the 144 Hobbits in attendance.
After the party was over, hobbits came in carriages to drive away the important people and the gardeners came to drive away others who stayed behind for some reason. Acting on orders, hobbits came the next morning to clear away all the party preparations and the mess left on the ground by the all the party-goers.[4]
Participants[]
- Adelard Took
- Adelard Took's daughters
- Adalgrim Took's daughters
- Angelica Baggins
- Asphodel Brandybuck
- Berilac Brandybuck
- Brockhouses
- Bruno Bracegirdle
- Celandine Brandybuck
- Chubbs
- Daisy Baggins
- Dinodas Brandybuck
- Doderic Brandybuck
- Dora Baggins
- Dudo Baggins
- Eglantine Banks
- Esmeralda Took
- Estella Bolger
- Everard Took
- Ferdibrand Took
- Ferdinand Took
- Ferumbras Took III
- Filibert Bolger
- Folco Boffin
- Fredegar Bolger
- Frodo Baggins
- Gandalf
- Gerda Boffin
- Gilly Brownlock
- Goodbodies
- Griffo Boffin
- Grubbs
- Heribald Bolger
- Hilda Bracegirdle
- Hornblowers
- Hugo Bracegirdle
- Ilberic Brandybuck
- Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
- Lotho Sackville-Baggins
- Marmadas Brandybuck
- Melilot Brandybuck
- Mentha Brandybuck
- Meriadoc Brandybuck
- Merimac Brandybuck
- Merimas Brandybuck
- Milo Burrows
- Minto Burrows
- Moro Burrows
- Mosco Burrows
- Myrtle Burrows
- Nora Bolger
- Odo Proudfoot
- Odovacar Bolger
- Olo Proudfoot
- Otho Sackville-Baggins
- Paladin Took II
- Pearl Took
- Peony Baggins
- Peregrin Took
- Pervinca Took
- Pimpernel Took
- Ponto Baggins II
- Poppy Chubb-Baggins
- Porto Baggins
- Prisca Baggins
- Reginard Took
- Rorimac Brandybuck
- Rosamunda Took
- Rufus Burrows
- Sancho Proudfoot
- Saradas Brandybuck
- Saradoc Brandybuck
- Seredic Brandybuck
- Tosto Boffin
- Vigo Boffin
- Wilimar Bolger
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Danish | Bilbos 111 års fødselsdag |
References[]
- ↑ The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, Year S.R. 1418, pgs. 34 (entry for Thursday, September 22: written as "Farewell 'Birthday' party")
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Chapter II: "The Shadow of the Past", (written: "Birthday Party")
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Appendices, "Appendix C: Family Trees", (written: "Farewell Party")
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Ch. I: "A Long-expected Party"