Nínui

The name given by the Dúnedain to the second month of the year. The name Nínui comes from the Sindarin language, and its Quenya equivalent is Nénimë. Both these names seem to be related to the Elvish stem nen, relating to water and wetness. In one case, indeed, the word Nínui is translated as 'tears', but used as a month-name it is presumably a reference to the rain showers of late winter.

The rainy month of Nínui was directly equivalent to the month named Solmath on the Shire Calendar, and ran on a modern calendar from 22 January to 20 February. It was preceded by Narwain, the first month of the year, and succeeded by the third month, Gwaeron. In Middle-earth, Nínui was seen as the lessening of the worst colds of winter, and its end marked the point when long journeys could be undertaken (which was usually avoided during the worst of the winter weather).

One long journey that did take place during the colder months was the setting out of the Company of the Ring. They had departed from Rivendell late in III 3018, and the month of Nínui in the following year, III 3019, proved critical for the Company. They had reached Lórien in the closing days of Narwain, and spent the early part of Nínui in that land before taking to the Great River and then reaching Parth Galen towards the end of the month. There the Fellowship was broken, and Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took were captured by Orcs. The last few days of Nínui saw the Three Hunters pursue the Hobbits' captors across Rohan, while Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee set out on their perilous journey toward Mordor.