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A
Brief History of the Elven
Calendar
Evolution of the
"Reckoning"s
The most widely used tool
in Tolkien-based Elven spirituality is
the Calendar of Imladris (CI), commonly
referred to as “the Elven Calendar”
(EC). Functionally, the EC provides the
core framework, i.e. the annual
devotional structure of the Elven
spiritual path. The evolution of the
Elven Calendar is not unlike the
evolution of the present, human,
Gregorian Calendar (GC). The GC denotes
the periods before, and after the birth
of Yesus
Hristo [Jesus the Christ] as B.C., (or
B.C.E.), and A.D. (or C.E.), however,
since A.D. commenced, it was preceded by
at least two other western calendars.
The GC was developed to resolve timing
inconsistencies that were apparent in
the Julian Calendar (JC). In 1752 A.D.,
the British formally adopted the GC,
eliminating observance to the JC, which
caused a major uproar in their society.
Other cultures, such as Semitic,
Polynesian, Native American, and African
cultures used their own calendar
systems, all of which predated the JC;
and not all of which perfectly
corresponded to either the JC, or the GC
(when leap years were factored into such
correspondences). Calendrical
development in Middle-earth, relative to
both Elves, and Men evidenced a similar
evolution, undergoing radical changes
primarily to accommodate political
expediency.
Elves are
the Firstborn of the Children of
Iluvatar; hence, Elves established
Arda’s first calendar system. In
Middle-earth, the Elven calendar system
was distilled into the CI; Imladris
being the fomal name for “Rivendell”.
The Elves began their year on the Vernal
Equinox, thus, the Elven New Year’s Day,
or “Yestarë”, dawned on the Gregorian
equivalent of March 22nd. The first
Elven month, “Viressë” began the day
after Yestarë. Aside from the mid-March
placement of Yestarë, one of the
principal features of the CI was the
placement of 3 days in the middle of the
year, known as the “Enderi”, which
separated the seasons of Autumn, and
Fading, as well as the 6th, and 7th
months. The Elven week, or “enquië”,
consisted of 6 days. When “the
Followers”, i.e. human Children Iluvatar
arrived, they adopted Elven calendrical
thinking, with remarkable, and what
would prove to be troublesomely
inconsistent variations that,
ultimately, needed to be reckoned with
(reconciled).
Many Peoples, Many Reckonings
The most significant variations humans
affected in their modification of the CI
was the resetting of Yestarë to December
22, (the day after their Yule), and the
addition of a 7th day to the enquië.
This was done by the kings of Númenor,
as was referred to as the “King’s
Reckoning”. After the fall of
Númenor, the King’s Reckoning continued
in Gondor, until the death of Eärnur,
the last King of Gondor. Thereafter, as
the governance of Gondor was directed by
stewards, (pending the arrival of
Aragorn/Ellesar}, the calendar was
further modified by the first steward,
then redesignated as the “Steward’s
Reckoning”. In sharp contrast to
the CI, aside from the primary
inconsistency of the timing of Yestarë,
one of the principal faults of both the
King’s Reckoning, and the Steward’s
Reckoning was the inconsistency they
both had, uniquely, as well as between
them as they differently attempted to
reconcile the Enderi. They both
recognized a single middle day, however
the former accommodated the other two
enderi by adding a day to both the month
preceding, and proceeding it; whilst the
latter did so by establishing holidays
on March 23rd, and September 21st.
Additionally, since those Reckonings
designated Dec. 22nd as Yestarë, they
were furthermore inconsistent with the
IC due to the overlapping placements of
Yestarë with the early days of Viressë;
the latter therein commencing a few days
prior to the Elven recognition of
Yestarë. Those misalignments persisted
in Middle-earth until the fall of
Barad-dûr, (documented in the Lord of
the Rings); they were resolved by
Aragorn, after he, as King Ellesar,
restored kingship to Gondor; at which
time the calendar became known as the “New
Reckoning”.
The New
Reckoning also embraced the calendry of
the Hobbits, thus realigning Yestarë
with New Year’s Day o the
f“Shire-reckoning", i.e March 25th, and
unifying all of Middle-earth in its time
count. After modern fine tuning, (based
on research done by Dave Woosley, which
further reset Yestarë to March 28), the
"Modern New Reckoning" (MNR)
emerged. The MNR establishes a
fundamental balance with the GC, and the
CI by commencing Viressë immediately
after Yestarë, and recognizing Enderi,
as the Elves have done, in perfect
alignment with the Elven seasons. As it
is the most balanced, and consistent
alignment between the Gregorian, and
Elven calendar systems, the MNR is the
one by which Elven spiritual practice is
most consistently observed.
The
Elven Chronological Calendar
(The
Calendar of Imladris/Rivendell)
The
Flow of the Elven Calendar
According to
the Modern New Reckoning
Basically,
the CI is comprised of a year, or “loa”,
which embodies 6 seasons, 12 months, and
fifty-two 7-day weeks spanning 365 days;
very compatible with the human count of
time. While human time is also denoted
in centuries, or one hundred years,
Elven time is also denoted in “yén”, or
one hundred forty-four years. During the
Ages of Middle-earth, the yen were also
counted in sets of 3.
The first
step toward mastering your understanding
of the CI is to learn how its increments
progress, and synchronize. The basic
math pattern of the yearly flow of the
loa’s seasons, and months relative to
their day counts may be easily
understood by the following numeric
sequences:
First Day.
Season day counts: 54; 72; 54; 3-day
pause; 54; 72; 54.
Monthly day counts: 30; 30; 30; 30; 30;
30; 3-day pause; 30; 30; 30; 30; 30; 30.
Last Day.
[Note:
Historically, Elven weeks were 6 days
long; so, in Elven time count, each
month had 5 weeks. However, since a
week in human time count is 7 days
long, each month of the MNR has 4
weeks and 2 days. There are 7 months
per half year, hence, those extra 2
days per month as up to 2 full weeks,
thus perfectly aligning the Elven and
human time counts via the MNR.]
The specific names of the Elven days,
months, and seasons, (in both Quenya, and
Sindarin), as well as their timings are
respectively detailed in the below tables.
|
Basic
Components of the
Elven Day
|
|
Time of
Day
|
Quenya
Name
|
Sindarin
Name
|
|
Night
|
Mórë
|
Maur
|
|
Morning
twilight
|
Tindómë
|
Minuial
|
|
Dawn
|
Ára
|
Morrowdim
|
|
Morning
|
|
Aur
|
|
Day
|
Árë
|
Calan
[Celain]
|
|
Dusk
|
Lómë
|
Tinnu
[Tinny]
|
|
Evening
twilight
|
Undómë
|
Dû;
Aduial [Aduiail]
|
|
|
|
|
|
24-hour
day (ré)
|
Ré
|
Eraid
|
|
Week
|
Enquiëe
Enquier (plural)
|
Lefnor
(5-day week)
|
Table 1
|
Days of the
Week
|
|
Quenya name
|
Sindarin
name
|
English
Translation
|
Gregorian
Equivalent
|
|
Elenya
|
Orgilion
|
Star Day
|
Saturday
|
|
Anarya
|
Oranor
|
Sun Day
|
Sunday
|
|
Isilya
|
Orithil
|
Moonday
|
Monday
|
|
Aldúya
|
Orgaladhad
|
Two Trees
Day
|
Tuesday
|
|
Menelya
|
Ormenel
|
Heavens Day
|
Wednesday
|
| Eärenya |
Oraearon |
Sea Day |
Thursday |
| Valanya/Tárion |
Orbelain/Rodyn |
Valar Day |
Friday |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numenoran
Modification |
Table 2
|
Months
|
|
Quenya name
|
Sindarin
name
|
English
translation
|
"Moon of…"
|
Duration
|
Approximate
Gregorian
Equivalent
|
|
Narvinyë
|
Narwain
|
New sun
|
New Sun
|
30
|
January
|
|
Nénimë
|
Nínui
|
Watery
|
Waters
|
30
|
February
|
|
Súlìmë
|
Gwaeron
|
Windy
|
Winds
|
30
|
March
|
|
Víressë
|
Gwirith
|
Youth
|
Youth
|
30
|
April
|
|
Lótessë
|
Lothron
|
Flowering
|
Flowers
|
30
|
May
|
|
Náríë
|
Nórui
|
Fiery,
sunny
|
Bright Fire
|
30
|
June
|
|
Cermië
|
Cerveth
|
|
First
Harvest
|
30
|
July
|
|
Urimë
|
Urui
|
Hot
|
Heat
|
30
|
August
|
|
Yavannië
|
Ivanneth
|
Fruit-giving
|
Yavanna
|
30
|
September
|
|
Narquelië
|
Narbeleth
|
Sun waning
|
Fading Fire
|
30
|
October
|
|
Hísimë
|
Hithui
|
Misty,
foggy
|
Mists
|
30
|
November
|
|
Ringarë
|
Girithron
|
Shuddering
|
Frosty Cold
|
30
|
December
|
Table 3
|
Framework
of the Elven Year
According to the New
Reckoning
|
|
Pivotal
Days
|
Seasons
|
|
Placement
|
Quenya name
|
Sindarin
name
|
Quenya name
|
Sindarin
name
|
English
translation
|
Duration
|
Gregorian
Equivalent
|
|
First Day
|
Yestarë
|
Maninor
|
|
|
|
|
28 March
|
|
|
|
|
Tuilë
|
Rthuil
|
Spring
|
54 days
|
29 March-
21 May
|
|
|
|
|
Lairë
|
Laer
|
Summer
|
72 days
|
22 May-
1 August
|
|
|
|
|
Yávië
|
Iavas
|
Autumn
|
54 days
|
2 August-
24
September
|
|
|
Enderë
|
Enedhoer:
Ethuilor
|
|
|
|
|
25
September
|
|
Middle Days
|
Loëndë
|
Enedhoer:
Inenedh
|
|
|
|
|
26
September
|
|
|
Enderë
|
Enedhoer:
Iavasor
|
|
|
|
|
27
September
|
|
|
|
Quellë
|
Firith/
Narbeleth
|
Fading
|
54 days
|
28
September-
20 November
|
|
|
|
Hrívë
|
Rhîw
|
Winter
|
72 days
|
21
November-
31 January
|
|
|
|
Coirë
|
Echuir
|
Stirring
|
54 days
|
1 February-
26 March
|
|
Last Day
|
Mettarë
|
Penninor
|
|
|
|
|
27 March
|
Table 4
|
The MNR
enables the most dependable, hassle-free
way of applying the Calendar of Imladris
to the Gregorian Calendar, and to the
practitioner’s daily life. However, the
MNR's greatest value is in the
application of it in the observance of
annual Elven Solar and Lunar
Observances, (i.e. celebrations,
rituals, and meditations), comprising
what is regarded as the “Elven Spiritual
Calendar” (ESC).
The Elven Spiritual Calendar
(Tië
eldaliéva)
The ESC,
established by Tië eldaliéva (T-e),
enables the practitioner to apply the
CI to her/his/their life to affect
reliable, progressive, personal
spiritual growth by transiting the loa
as the "Elven
Spiritual Harvest Cycle".
Basically, the flow of the ESC
conforms to that of the CI, according
to the Modern New Reckoning. In order
to enable those interested in the
Elven spiritual path to have
consistent, accruing spiritual
encounters with the Valar, the EC's
key dates are respectively aligned
with the Valar, the Maiar, the Ainur,
and the Elves. Each of those dates are
further aligned with rituals enabling
personal interaction with respective
Valar; in keeping with the CI, the ESC
is designed to enable personal
spiritual growth via the regular
practice of those rituals. (As a
member of T-e’s core leadership, Ms.
de Cygne added value to the Calendar
by including New Moon, and Dark Moon
observances, and developing
meditations for them, along with an
additional ritual, aligned with all of
the Valar, that initiates the
practitioner into life as an Elven
Light Bearer.)
The
rituals form the foundation of the
practitioner’s experience of the
Path’s Solar and Lunar
Observances. The
timing of nearly all of the path’s
rituals, and meditations are solidly
based on the cycles of regular dates
occurring within the Calendar; those
that are not are nonetheless based on
cyclical astronomical events, e.g.
Blue Moons.
The
Solar Observances
The
Elven Solar Observances?? form the
primary devotional framework of the
Elven spiritual path. With the
exception of “Cuivérë Quendiva”, which
was improvisationally established by
T-e, all of them may be found within
Tolkien’s Legendarium; (the original
founders of T-e having devoted
considerable effort, and time to
determine their respective Gregorian
alignments). They are below listed by
Gregorian calendar dates, along with
the respective entities upon whom the
Observances are focused.
March
27th and March 28th: Mettarë / Yestarë
(the Loa’s Last Day / First Day, or
Elven New Year) Focus: The Valië, Vairë the Weaver.
May 22nd:
Nost-na-Lothion, “Birth of Flowers”,
(beginning of Lairë/Laer, Summer)
Focus: The Valie, Vana, the
Ever-Young.
June 21:
Tarnin Austa (Gates of Summer; Summer
Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere)
Focus: The golden tree Laurelin, Anar
(the Sun), and the Maia, Arien, whom
the Valar appointed to steer Anar.
August 2: Yavië (beginning of
Yavië/Iavas, Autumn)
August 2: Yávië/Iavas
Focus:
Arda, the Earth.
September
25-27th: Enderi/Enedhoer (Middle Days,
which are observed between the end of
Yávië/Iavas, and the beginning of
Quellë [or Lasse-lanta]/Firith [or
Narbeleth], i.e. the Seasons of
Autumn, and Fading, respectively)
Focus: Oromë.
November
21: Cuivérë Quendiva (Awakening of the
Quendi (Elves), [as improvised by Tië
eldaliéva], First day of Hrivë/Rhîw,
Winter)
Focus: The Elves.
December
21: Turuhalmë (“LogDrawing” and Winter
Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere)
Focus: Telperion (The silver tree,
also known as the White Tree), Isil,
the Moon, and the Maia, Tilion, whom
the Valar appointed to steer Isil.
February
1: Solvalwaris (Purification,
beginning of Coirë/Echuir, Season of
Stirring)
Focus: The Valië, Nienna.
The Lunar Observances
Although
the Solar Observances form the backbone
of Tolkien-based Elven spiritual
practice, the Lunar Observances truly
flesh out the practitioner’s thereof
experience. The primary Lunar
Observances occur on Full Moons, or
“Isils”. All Isil observances apply
ritual, and formalized communication
with the respective Vala, or Valie
relative to the month in which it
occurs. Additionally, Lunar Observances
occur on New Moons, “Cuerans”, and Dark
Moons, “Morrans”. Morrans are
opportunities for the practioner to
explore the deepest, magical dynamics of
the respective Vala, or Valië, (an
experience that may also include her, or
him attaining much deeper character
development, and refinement pursuant to
the Vala, or Valie teaching her, or him
Elven High Magic). Cuerans are
opportunities for the practitioner to
receive the guidance, and assistance of
the respective Valië, or Vala in sowing
wise intentions relative to her, or his
personal, spiritual growth during the
Harvest Cycle, in alignment with the
Powers of the Valië, or Vala. Those
intentions may also be external,
relative to the lives of other Eldalië,
and/or conditions that may be desired to
be manifest in, upon, or in the
celestial environs of Arda. The specific
timing of the Lunar Observances must be
determined by using an ephemeris, or
simply by doing an online search for
“moon phases”.
[The Gregorian calendar correspondences
are general, each Elven month beginning
slightly before the Gregorian
month.]
Key:
Month
(English ~ Quenya/Sindarin
(LO)
Lunar
Observances
(VF) Respective
Valar Focus
January ~
Narvinyë/Narwain
(LO): Cuerannarvinyë, Isilnarvinyë,
Morrannarvinyë
(VF): The Vala, Aulë the Smith
February
~ Nénimë/Nínui
LO: Cuerannénimë, Isilnénimë,
Morrannénimë
VF: The Vala, Ulmo
March ~
Súlimë/Gwaeron
LO: Cueransúlimë, Isilsúlimë,
Morransúlimë
VF: The Vala, Manwë Sulimo
April ~
Víressë/Gwirith
LO: Cueranvíressë, Isilvíressë,
Morranvíressë
VF: The Vala, Tulkas Astaldo
May ~
Lótessë/Lothron
LO: Cueranlótessë, Isillótessë,
Morranlótessë
VF: The Valie, Nessa
June ~
Nárië/Nórui
LO: Cuerannárië, Isilnárië,
Morrannárië
VF: The Valie, Varda Elentári
July ~
Cermië/Cerveth
LO: Cuerancermië, Isilcermië,
Morrancermië
VF: The Vala, Irmo/Lorien
August ~
Úrimë/Úrui
LO: Cueranurimë, Isilurimë,
Morranurimë
VF: The Ainur (collectively)
September
~ Yavannië/Ivanneth
LO: Cueranyavannië, Isilyavannië,
Morranyavannië
VF: The Valie, Yavanna Kementari
October ~
Narquelië/Narbeleth
LO: Cuerannarquelië, Isilnarquelië,
Morrannarquelië
VF: The Vala, Námo/Mandos
November
~ Hísimë/Hithui
LO: Cueranhísimë, Isilhísimë,
Morranhísimë
VF: The Valie, Estë the Gentle
December
~ Ringarë/Girithron
LO: Cueranringarë, Isilringarë,
Morranringarë
VF: Mourning of the marring of Arda by
the Dark One (Melkor, whose name the
Elves do not speaking, preferring to
refer to him as “Morgoth”) – The Valië, Nienna presides over this
Observance, washing away what has been
marred in our lives, and in the world,
thusly, advancing the healing of Arda.
Special
Lunar Observances
Blue Moons [double
Full Moons], and Double New, and
Dark Moons
When a moon
type occurs twice within the same solar
month, such as a Blue Moon, or second
Full Moon, the name of the first
occurrence remains the same, relative to
its respective monthly placement, whilst
the latter’s suffix is changed to
“-maiaron”, (which may be translated as
“of the Maiar”). Hence, a Blue Moon is
referred to as an “Isilmaiaron”, a
second New Moon is a “Cueranmaiaron”,
and a second Dark Moon is a
“Morranmaiaron”. On each of these
special moons, the type of observance is
consistent with the normal respective
moon; i.e. there is an Isilmaiaron
ritual, and meditations for both
Cueranmaiaron, and Morranmaiaron.
The
Timing of Morrans, and Cuerans
The
addition of New Moons, “Cuerans”, and
Dark Moons, “Morrans”, to the below IC
representation follows the astrological
timings, rather than the astronomical
timings. The former is specifically
calculated based on mathematics; the
latter is generally calculated based on
observation, i.e. the Dark Moon occurs
when there is no moon observable, and
the New Moon occurs when the moon is
first observable in the night sky, which
may be twenty-four to thirty-six hours
after the astrological timing of same.
Using the astrological, the practitioner
may experience such observances with a
general 3-day span for each one.
However, since there is no mention of
astrology in the Legendarium, it may be
reasonably deduced that the science was
developed during post-Middle-earth
history; hence, that the Elves observed
those events according to the
astronomical observation rather than the
astrological calculation. Therefore, if
the practitioner prefers the “old
school” philosophically alignment, i.e.
the astronomical timing to the
astrological timing, then, the
astrologically-aligned 3-day span for
each observance will be nearly always
irrelevant to the Morrans, but will
still apply to the Cuerans; (the
astronomical timing being circa a
3-degree orb on either side of the
astrological timing of the New Moon.)
The Full Moon Between Time
Five to
seven times per century, (generally),
the Full Moon occurs on Mettarë,
or Yestarë.
Since both of those sacred days are
regarded as being outside of time, the
Full Moons that thereupon occur may be
regarded as “Isilimbilumë”,
the
Full
Moon Between Time. Naturally,
Isilimbilumë
is aligned with Vairë.
Whenever it occurs on Yestarë,
the subsequent Full Moon, Isilviressë,
occurs on 30 Viressë,
the last day of Viressë.
According to the Elven
Spiritual Harvest Cycle,
the Divine Masculine is embraced during
Viressë,
and the Divine Feminine is embrace
during Lotessë.
Hence, the Isilviressë
subsequent to the Isilimbilumë
that occurs on Yestarë
directly, albeit slightly intermingles
the Energies of the Divine Masculine,
and Divine Feminine as the last date of
that Isilviressë
cycle occurs on 1 Lotessë;
Lotessë
being when the practitioner annually
turns her, his, or their attention
toward Nessa. For that reason, the
Yestarë/Isilimbilumë,
though infrequent, is one of the most
potent Full Moons of the centennial
practice of the ESP; it is certainly the
most potent Yestarë,
whenever it thereupon occurs.
*
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