September 22 is Hobbit Day, the birthdays of the most famous hobbits of Tolkien lore: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Both born in the Third Age, Bilbo was born in 2890 and Frodo, 78 years later. Fans celebrate Tolkien Week as the week containing Hobbit Day.
Since hobbits are known for their easy-going nature, let’s take it from our favorite halflings and learn from their lives. Here are six tips on how to enjoy your weekends like a hobbit:
- Make your home cozy. I know, I know—hard work and hobbits don’t sound like they should go together. But although hobbits abhor hard labor, they know the value of keeping one’s home clean and cozy. A hobbit-hole, after all is not like an ordinary hole—as Tolkien described it, “Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that meant comfort.” Keep your house clean, and keep it comfortable. The work you do on the weekend will make the whole week that much more enjoyable.
- Do some gardening. Hobbits love the earth and for good reason—they love the bounty she brings. Spend some time cultivating your backyard. If space is an issue, there are numerous do-it-yourself videos about home gardening that can help you. Get your hands a little dirty—those tomatoes and onions you’ll grow on your own will be that much sweeter.
- Enjoy eating. Speaking of sweets, any talk about hobbits is bound to mention food since their passion for gastronomy is perhaps their most famous trait. You’ve been good all week—watching those carbs, counting calories. Weekends are for indulging. But here’s a pro-tip before you pig-out: we don’t have the metabolism of hobbits so don’t mindlessly start shoving food in your mouth. Choose which ones are worth the calories—will you take the merengue or reach for that wicked chocolate cake dubbed as “the best in the metro?” Choose wisely so you can eat whatever you want without eating yourself into a health issue.
- Hobby happily. Ignore the naysayers—any activity that you enjoy doing IS NOT a waste of time. Perhaps it’s lining up and doing a movie marathon or playing successive DOTA matches with friends or finishing half-a dozen books in one weekend. Maybe it’s something offbeat as categorizing your pens or spending hours painting your nails. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about your hobbies. Hobbits don’t apologize for doing the things they love. You’re an adult. Embrace your hobbies.
- (House) Party with friends. Hobbits love celebrations and gatherings—but not everyone’s invited. Choose the people you actually love to be with (instead of getting stuck with people you’d rather not see). Invite the family who are also your friends, and your friends who feel like they’re family. Eat good food. Tell amazing stories. Drink great ale. Smoke some pipe-weed if you can find them. Enjoy the camaraderie. And once it’s done, happily send your guests home. Bid them a fond farewell and start planning the next gathering.
- No adventures! I know Bilbo and Frodo became famous due to their journeys, but as a rule, hobbits are against such ridiculous nonsense. Enjoy the quiet and comfort of your home. Escape the horrible traffic and the distress borne out of dealing with people. And for goodness sake, keep away from exercises and escapades. A respectable hobbit knows the value of a soothing nap.
If you want to enjoy your weekends, listen to the hobbits. Don’t knock off their wise ways. After all, Gandalf himself said, “Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.”
