Welcoming Midwinter in Middle-Earth

It is a bleak time, when the weak, grey sun barely crawls above the horizon for a few hours each day and yet...life goes on, but mostly in darkness in the warm light of lanterns and fires.

The midwinter traditions surrounding the festival of Yule are alive and strong in Middle-earth. The Midwinter festival of Yule lends itself to a more private and domestic celebration. Families will gather together in the home, around  a special meal, gifts will be exchanged and traditional Yule songs will be sung by the fireplace. Like the other festivals of the year, Yule was a great social occasion, relieving, if only for a brief time, the hardship of everyday life. 

As always Frostbluff and the  beautiful town of Winter-home will take center stage in the Midwinter celebrations.There are tales and legends about Frostbluff, some say it is not real, some say it is an enchanted place that can only be visited at Yule only by people with a joyful heart and ready to embrace the spirit of the season. Winter-home 's Mayor Winston Goodnough will soon welcome visitors as the town is getting ready for its traditional annual opening.

Great logs of wood are been harvested in the Grumpwood although the local inhabitants do not seem very happy about the gathering of wood so some resistance is to be expected. The Yule logs will burn slowly all thought the festive days , The ashes from these special logs will be scattered over the fields to fertilize next year's crops and thrown into wells to purify the water. 

Mistletoe, holly and ivy are used to decorate buildings and houses. Mistletoe in particular seem to hang everywhere due to the popular believe that if a couple kiss under it they will be blessed by true and long lasting love and happiness all though the year. Yuletide candles and lanterns often colored red, green and decorated with sprigs of holly or some other evergreen are used to bring light in the darkness - while the candles and lanterns burns, it is believed to shed a blessing on the household and community. 

Hobbits of the Shire are at the forefront of the Midwinter celebrations - Yule is a perfect excuse  for an other of their fabled banquets . The food stores are filled to the brim, ready to sustain the hobbits all trough the winter months.  The hobbits are also enjoying wassailing through the streets of Winter-home with toasts and singing. Wassail carols will be sung as hobbits travel from house to house in the village bringing good wishes in return for a small gratuity ( apple cider and pies are highly appreciated ) 

The Elven celebration of Midwinter is less known however even the Elves celebrate this special time. A great Elven Ball is organized each year in Rivendell with beautiful dances, music, and a banquet.  Like the Elves the Dwarves also enjoy this time of the year although , secretive as they are, they tend to keep their tradition hidden  however it is not unusual to meet the dwarven folk in Winter-home where they seem to enjoy the abundance of ale and food. 

From Forochel to Southern Gondor, from Rohan to Lothlorien, Midwinter is time to be celebrated , a time for family and friends, peace and joy for the people of Middle-earth, regardless of their race . With celebration, family and joy at its core,  this year Yuletide events are crafted to bring out the best in the season, so mark your calendar, Yule is coming! Here are the days to discover our line-up of festive fun and events. Whatever your preference, Hobbits, Elves, Men and Dwarves of Middle-earth, have it all covered.

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Article and images by Amorey  for The Laurelin Archives Webteam