Tolkien’s Birthday: Raise a glass!

Posted on 3 January 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Via Bettnet we learn the following from the Tolkien Society:

On the 3rd January 1892 JRR Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. To celebrate this event, on this day each year Tolkien fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast the birthday of this much loved author.

The toast is "The Professor".

For those unfamiliar with British toast-drinking ceremonies:

To make the Birthday Toast, you stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words ‘The Professor’ before taking a sip (or swig, if that’s more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink.

Sign up to drink a toast to JRR Tolkien here.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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11 Comments

  1. Pius_X says:
    3 January 2008 at 9:55 AM

    Father Z is absolutely correct on his precis of how to toast, except that it is traditionally considered rude to toast someone with a glass of water.

  2. Matthew says:
    3 January 2008 at 10:05 AM

    Since Tolkien was a devout Catholic, wouldn’t it be most appropriate to toast “The Professor” with something made by monks, Chartreuse for example?

  3. Fr Renzo di Lorenzo says:
    3 January 2008 at 10:10 AM

    But, what was his favourite drink, at least in his books?

  4. Jon says:
    3 January 2008 at 12:19 PM

    Father di Lorenzo,

    That, of course, would be the same as mine…BEER!

  5. Matthew says:
    3 January 2008 at 12:31 PM

    Well, if you go by the Hobbits, it would be beer, specifically ales.

  6. Jon says:
    3 January 2008 at 12:33 PM

    …And perhaps not inappropriate, as Christmas is still with us, to toast the Professor with the words of another English Catholic whom I much admire. I’m sure the Professor and his pal C.S. Lewis would’ve gladly clanked loud flagons over it at the Bird and Baby.

    From Hilaire Belloc’s THE FOUR MEN:

    Noel! Noel! Noel! Noel!
    A Catholic tale I Have to tell!
    And a Christian song I have to sing
    While all the bells in Arundel ring.

    I pray good beef and I pray good beer
    This holy night of all the year,
    But I pray detestable drink for them
    That give no honour to Bethlehem.

    May all good fellows that here agree
    Drink Audit Ale in heaven with me,
    And may all my enemies go to hell!
    Noel! Noel! Noel! Noel!
    May all my enemies go to hell!
    Noel! Noel!

  7. AlephGamma says:
    3 January 2008 at 3:45 PM

    Dependent on culture – an empty glass is also rude or offensive.

  8. Derik Castillo says:
    3 January 2008 at 9:00 PM

    Fr. Z: Thanks for the link.

    Anar kaluva tielyanna!

    Derik

  9. Jordan Potter says:
    3 January 2008 at 9:22 PM

    Pius X said: Father Z is absolutely correct on his precis of how to toast, except that it is traditionally considered rude to toast someone with a glass of water.

    Though it is acceptable for Jacobites to pass their toast over a glass of water to toast the King over the Water. ;-)

  10. mike conlon says:
    5 January 2008 at 1:15 PM

    Better late than never. My computer was “infested” until exorcized so I missed this one. As a charter member of Traddrinkers I would caution against swigging Chartreuse or even B & B. A simple Sam Adams Boston Ale or Flying Fish Belgian Dubbel might be the proper libation to salute Gandalf’s padrone.

  11. Knappy says:
    4 January 2009 at 5:35 PM

    It’s Jan 4th! and I missed it! My daughter reminded me and she thought it was the 4th–well, I shall toast anyways…Long live Tolkien devotees!

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