Elven Calendar

* * * Starflower – Lysimachia borealis * * *

The following is the Elven Calendar, or “Loa“ in Elvish that is used by those who adhere to Tië eldaliéva, the Elven Spiritual Path, or who in some way practice a form of Tolkien or Elven Spirituality based on the writings of Professor JRR Tolkien from the Elven viewpoint of the back-stories, providing a very solid Tolkien/Elven cosmology in a way that can be applied to spiritual practice.  This calendar is the result of extensive Legendarium research that notes the Elven holidays (singularly, meryalë) both directly from Tolkien himself, along with deeply thoughtful improvisations that have been time-tested for at least 15 years.  We strive to stay well within the bounds of integrity with Professor Tolkien’s material, and we hope this inspires all of you who are pulled to practice an Elven spiritual practice, no matter what that looks like, by pausing throughout the year, and remembering while we integrate Elven wisdom that is so well displayed in the stories.  Laita – blessings to you all!

Solar Observances

From Tolkien himself (mostly from the Appendices in “Return of the King” and you may wish to reference an older version of Dave’s article):

Turuhalmë (Elven “LogDrawing” and Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice) December 21st – The male elder silver tree, Telperion (also known as the White Tree), Isil the Moon, and the Maia Tilion who steers Isil

Solvalwaris (Purification, begin Coirë, Season of Stirring): February 1st – Nienna

Yestarë (Elven New Year, begin Tuilë, Season of Spring): March 28th – Vairë the Weaver

Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers, begin Lairë, Season of Summer) May 22nd – Vana the Ever-Young

Tarnin Austa (Gates of Summer, Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice) June 21st – The female younger golden tree Laurelin, Anar the Sun, and the Maia Arien who steers Anar

Yavië (begin Yavië, the Elven Autumn) August 2nd – Arda, our Earth

Enderi (Middle Days, begin Quellë, Season of Fading) September 25-27th (all 3 days) – Oromë

Improvised by Tië eldaliéva: (see Dave’s article on this):
Cuiverë Quendiva (First day of Hrivë, Season of Winter/Origins of the Elves) November 21st – The Elves

Lunar Observances

Tië eldaliéva also improvised the Full Moons (Isil) too, using the Legendarium as much as possible, and we have included in the [soon to be published] book. Eventually, New Moon (Cueran), and Dark Moon (Morran) observances were improvised and incorporated into what may be termed as our “Lunar Observances“.

During Isils, we do dedicated rituals. During Morrans, we explore the magical dynamics of the respective Valië, or Vala, (and sometimes even learning the practice of Elven High Magic, which entails deep character development, and refinement). During Cuerans, we work with the respective Valië, or Vala, to sow right intentions that may directly facilitate our spiritual growth relative to her, or his influence in our lives, in the lives of the Eldalië, and/or in Arda. (In advance of the book, [in which we deeply explore both solar, and lunar observances, and how you may apply them to your life], you may join us at our Facebook page to follow the Flow of the loa through these Times, and to learn more about how to incorporate them into your personal spiritual practice.)

We hope to (re)publish an updated version (2020) of Dave’s in-depth Calendar article in the near future! The version linked needed some small changes, so keep an eye out for that.

In the meantime, you can find the specific dates of the Elven Moons by using the Gregorian calendar date specified as the Full (New) Moon, and discover the month from the “Calendar of Numenor” reference point at the Encyclopedia of Arda Interactive Calendar.  (Some of you have asked – here are the FAQ’s for calculations of this interactive calendar).

Once you enter the date from the usual Gregorian calendar, the months in the Quenya language are here termed “Numenorean” so you know which one we use – combined with any general resource that provides dates of the Dark Moon, and New Moon as well.

Months / Lunar Observances / Respective Valar Focus

January ~ Narwain “New sun” (Q. Narvinyë)
Lunar Observances (LO): Cuerannarvinyë, Isilnarvinyë, Morrannarvinyë
Valar Focus (VF): Aulë the Smith

February ~ Nínui “Watery” (Q. Nénimë)
LO: Cuerannénimë, Isilnénimë, Morrannénimë
VF: Ulmo

March ~ Gwaeron “Windy” (Q. Súlimë)
LO: Cueransúlimë, Isilsúlimë, Morransúlimë
VF: Manwë Sulimo

April ~ Gwirith (Q. Víressë) – Moon of Youth
LO: Cueranvíressë, Isilvíressë, Morranvíressë
VF: Tulkas Astaldo

May ~ Lothron “Flowering” (Q. Lótessë)
LO: Cueranlótessë, Isillótessë, Morranlótessë
VF: Nessa

June ~ Nórui “Fiery, sunny” (Q. Nárië)
LO: Cuerannárië, Isilnárië, Morrannárië
VF: Varda Elentari

July ~ Cerveth (Q. Cermië)
LO: Cuerancermië, Isilcermië, Morrancermië
VF: Irmo/Lorien

August ~ Úrui “hot” (Q. Úrimë)
LO: Cueranurimë, Isilurimë, Morranurimë
Focus: Ainur

September ~ Ivanneth “Fruit-giving” (Q. Yavannië)
LO: Cueranyavannië, Isilyavannië, Morranyavannië
VF: Yavanna Kementari

October ~ Narbeleth “Sun waning” (Q. Narquelië)
LO: Cuerannarquelië, Isilnarquelië, Morrannarquelië
VF: Námo/Mandos

November ~ Hithui “Misty, foggy” (Q. Hísimë)
LO: Cueranhísimë, Isilhísimë, Morranhísimë
VF: Estë the Gentle

December ~ Girithron “Shuddering” (Q. Ringarë) or Frosty Cold
LO: Cueranringarë, Isilringarë, Morranringarë
Focus: Mourning of the marring of Arda by the Dark One (known as Melkor/Morgoth but not spoken due to Elven etiquette) – (Nienna helps to wash this away, which contributes to Arda-Healed).

 

Elven Week (Enquié)

While most of us in Tië eldalieva, the Elven Path use the 7th Day like the Numenoreans to make it easier to keep track for our respective practices (and added the respective planets as per the rules of astrology), here is further information.

“An Eldarin week employs six days rather than seven. The days all are named after important things to the culture of the people. There is no known division into “weekdays” and “weekends”; all days incorporate work and play both. Vacations or rest days are not scheduled but taken when needed, if such will not cause trouble to other people. Somehow, this loose system does not seem to fall apart into laziness as it often would with humans.”

Day 1 – Elenya “stars-day” *(Saturday, Saturn/Lumbar)

Day 2 – Anarya “sun-day” *(Sunday, Sun/Anar)

Day 3 – Isilya “moon-day” *(Monday, Moon/Isil)

Day 4 – Aldúya “trees-day” *(Tuesday, Mars/Carnil)

Day 5 – Menelya “Heavens-day” *(Wednesday, Mercury/Elemmirë)

**
Day 6 – Valanya “Powers-day” *(Friday, Venus/Ëarendil)

**”A seventh day, introduced by Men and picked up later in a few of the scattered Eldarin communities of Ennor, is Ëarenya, the ‘sea-day'”. *This is Thursday, aligned with Jupiter, or Alcarinquë.  Planet Elven names from http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/vocab.htm

 

Seasons

This can also be accessed with the Encyclopedia of Arda Interactive Calendar.  When using the usual Gregorian Calendar date, see the “Reckoning of Rivendell” reference point for this.

Quenya	Sindarin	English tr.	Length
Tuilë	Ethuil	Spring	54 days
Lairë	Laer	Summer	72 days
Yávië	Iavas	Autumn	54 days
Quellë	Firith	Fading	54 days
Hrívë	Rhîw	Winter	72 days
Coirë	Echuir	Stirring	54 days

 

More Elven Calendar Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_calendar
http://lostworldofennor.angelcities.com/time.htm
http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/reference/linguistic_foolery/holidays.php

Calantirniel, and Alyras of Iluvamil

P.S. Dave/Aikanar/Eluyon, the author of said Calendar Article can also be found at www.westofwest.org.

Parmavalaron – Book of the Valar