December 22, 2020

 

For our 22nd yule calendar surprise, we reveal a yule article by Saelo, one of our newer kinship members! Here he introduces us to the special yule traditions of the Enedwaith hobbits: flying torches, fortune telling and yule pies, of course!

 

Yule Traditions of Enedwaith Hobbits

by Saelo Honeythumb

Yule is coming, which means more celebration is on the way. But Yule brings traditions with itself too. For some those traditions are not important, but for Hobbits traditions are important part of the Yule and celebrations. There are many traditions that are common everywhere, like raising Yule Tree, wassailing, special dances and songs and what not. But there are a few traditions only known by the Hobbits of Enedwaith, or carry a different meaning, like Yule Pie. On this article I will tell you details of those traditions.

One of interesting traditions Enedwaith Hobbits have is throwing torches to sky and watching it flying across it. But those torches are different than we know: smaller than usual and have a little handler to make it possible to throw as further as possible. Color of their flames also differ depending on the oils used to lit them. This tradition is probably about the days of old, when no one did know of fizzers, but after invention of fizzers Enedwaith wee hobbits still throw those torches to the sky on Yule day.             

Another interesting tradition of Enedwaith hobbits is fortune telling by ear, or fortune hearing, let’s say. It is mostly done by wee lasses who want to get wed. It is believed that when you keep a wish in your heart and sneak by the door of your neighbor, whatever you hear first is the answer for your wish. For example, if you hear something good, like "Glad to see you!", "Nicely done!" or anything that means well, your wish will become true till the next Yule. Hearing something bad means completely opposite indeed. But one can also hear something like "We got a little one but not big". Then, if your wish is getting wed, for example, means you will be wooed but not actually get wed. Meanings of things you hear between good and bad have their own explanations, in short. Yet, one should remember that fortune tellings (or hearing) never guarantees you anything!

There is one tradition about lasses (especially young lasses): Wedding Telling. It has no certainty, but it is believed that if someone ties a wedding ring to a string, closes their eyes and imagine the lad they would want to wed, then swings the string once on a glass of water, the number of times the ring touches the walls of the glass is the age that lass will wed!

The last interesting tradition is Yule Pie. It is not completely different than Shire hobbits, though, yet it has big differences. The first difference is one can find a jewel, coal or a precious stone inside your pie, yet it ain’t guaranteed! But after this, there is more – the mood you are in when you find ‘em matters too! If you find a jewel when you are in a bad mood, means you should travel for a while the next year to find your luck in other settlements. Although travelling might seem a bit disturbing business for Shire hobbits, it is kinda part of Enedwaith hobbits’ lives. But if you are in a good mood when you find a jewel inside your pie, means you should donate a big purse of coins to one hobbit who will wed the next year. Expensive business, I say, but traditions are very important and costs should not be cause you to dodge ‘em! And last, if you are calm, means you gotta wed yourself the next year. Indeed, type of the jewel, its stone and much more decides what kind of person you gotta wed, but ‘tis something gaffers and gammers can explain! Accordingly, finding a coal might mean buying new shoes (assure you, no one remembers why it is so!), starting a new business or spending more time with family and hobbits you love.

However, finding a precious stone is a little different, as first two findings are about what the person should do, but finding a precious stone is kinda fortune telling. You might get richer if you find it when you are in a good mood, or have problems in what you do if you are in a bad mood. But if you are in a calm mood, your next year will be cozy and peaceful around your family. At least this is what gammers say!

There is one ‘special’ Yule pie: filled with handkerchief. Whoever finds a handkerchief in their Yule pie means that person should do all the dishes after every party, banquet and whatnot! Its occurrence is very rare, because as you can think no one would want to find this pie. Yet, if you find it and no matter in which mood, you should get ready for tons of dishes!

One can think avoiding burdens of these traditions is a witty decision sometimes. But nay, sadly it ain’t. For example, once Bongo Dryfoot refused doing dishes after finding handkerchief in his pie and starting from the next Yule, he first lost all hair on his head, then on his face and at the end on his feet. And in case you wonder, he was just thirty years old!

The most terrifying case about avoiding traditions belongs to Violed Yellowtree, who refused to wed after finding a jewel in her pie. Next year she got kidnapped by brigands, fell in love with their leader but he didn’t even pay attention to her except the money her family would pay for her. After coming back she kept her secret for a while but one day came to his pa crying, told him everything she feels and wants. His pa, Gertech thought it was a delirium of young hobbit (she was twenty five after all!), yet, made her wed to Andro Wholebuddy, a respectable hobbit. But at the wedding night Violed escaped and no one saw her again or learnt anything about her tale. As you can see, avoiding what traditions require from you doesn’t end up with any good!

In short, traditions of Enedwaith hobbits are mostly about fortune telling or responsibilities of a hobbit about next year. Yet, these traditions are part of their lives and accepted by all. Well, almost!