Time Changes Between the Third and Fourth Ages
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Shire Reckoning and the Third Age:
Months and days in the narrative of the War
of the Ring were in Shire Reckoning.
Shire
Reckoning's Year One began
at the crossing of the Brandywine by the brothers Marcho and Blanco,
which to Elves and Men was Third Age 1601.
So, add 1600 to Shire Reckoning to translate to
Third Age; or subtract 1600 from Third Age for Shire Reckoning.
Reference: RotK
Appendix D "Shire Calendar"
End of the Third Age:
The Third Age (T.A.) truly ended with the departure
of Elrond
from Middle-earth. If the reckoning of the Third Age had continued,
this would have been Sept. 29, 3021 T.A., which was the year 1421 in
Shire Reckoning (S.R.).
Those Hobbits who took note of the new Age
maintained that it began 2 Yule 1422, not the previous March.
Shire Reckoning continued with the same numbers, but
the
calendar years started over in the lands of Men. The
Third Age was still the time of the Elves, but the Fourth Age was the
time of Men. Hobbits could cheerfully ignore both Elves and Men while
figuring their own calendars. Thus, Shire Reckoning's Year One began
at the crossing of the Brandywine by the brothers Marcho and Blanco,
which was Third Age 1601.
For Men, the Fourth Age in the New Reckoning began
after Elrond's
departure, but the dates did not change at that time.
Instead, in all of King Elessar's lands except the
Shire, the new Year One began on what
would have been March 25, 3021 old style, commemerating the fall of
Sauron and the deeds of the Ringbearers.
The months then began with Viresse (April). A spring beginning
fit better with the Eldarin loa.
Months retained their former
names, but generally began five days earlier than previously, since the
new year did not start on the old March 30. All months had thirty days.
Leap year was worked out by adding an extra day of
feasting for Frodo's birthday. This feast was called Cormare or Ringday. In the old
calendar, Frodo's birthday was September 22. In the new calendar, this
was Yavannie 30, and the
extra day of feasting was the day after that.
To approximate the passing of years using Men's
time, use the Fourth Age year plus 3020.
Reference: RotK
Appendix D "Shire Calendar"
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