The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Date
22 June on a modern (Gregorian) calendar
Origins
First formally appeared in the King's Reckoning of Númenor
Races
Celebrated especially by Men and Hobbits
Pronunciation
lo-e'ndeh
Meaning
Literally 'year-middle', but usually translated 'Mid-year's Day'
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 28 May 2023
  • This entry is complete

Loëndë

Mid-year’s Day

The name of a day introduced into the calendars of Men in the original King's Reckoning, marking the middle of the year (its name literally translates as 'year-middle', and it is usually translated 'Mid-year's Day'). On a modern calendar Loëndë would fall on 22 June, corresponding closely with the Summer Solstice.

In Númenor, Loëndë did not in fact occur in every year. To mark a leap year, it was removed from its normal position between the months of Nárië and Cermië, and was replaced by a pair of days known as the Enderi, thus extending the year by one day. Though the original Númenórean calendar saw significant revisions over the millennia, the festival of Midsummer remained in place through all these revisions, and on into the New Reckoning that came into use during the Fourth Age. In this, the last documented calendar of Middle-earth, the middle of the year was marked by three Enderi, but the name Loëndë was retained for the second of these three Middle-days of the year.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 28 May 2023
  • This entry is complete

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