Recently updated on October 3rd, 2025 at 10:05 am
September 22 is the birthday of two of the most famous hobbits in history: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Fans call it Hobbit Day – and it’s the perfect excuse to raise a mug of ale, tuck into “second breakfast” and toast the start of Tolkien’s epic adventures.
You could celebrate small – reading The Hobbit in a cozy chair – or venture to the lush hills of New Zealand’s Hobbiton™ for a grand feast! However you mark the occasion, at its core Hobbit Day is about slowing down, sharing good food and embracing the joy of living like a hobbit. Let’s look into the details and which New Zealand tours you could join…
1. What is Hobbit Day? When is Hobbit Day?
Hobbit Day is a fan-made holiday that tips its hat (or more likely a pointy hobbit hood) to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Both hobbits share the same birthday – September 22 – and in Tolkien’s stories, it’s no ordinary party. Bilbo’s “eleventy-first” birthday bash in The Fellowship of the Ring is remembered for fireworks, feasting and one very dramatic disappearing act.
Hobbit fans picked up on this date back in the 1970s, and ever since people have celebrated Hobbit Day around the world on September 22.
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2. When did Hobbit Day start and why?
Hobbit Day began in the 1970s when the American Tolkien Society proposed September 22 as a day to honor Bilbo and Frodo’s shared birthday. The date is significant in Tolkien’s stories – Bilbo’s “eleventy-first” party marks the start of The Lord of the Rings – so fans feel it’s the perfect moment to celebrate hobbit culture. Over time, Hobbit Day grew international and is now part of “Tolkien Week”.
Tour not found.3. How do people celebrate Hobbit Day?
In true hobbit fashion, Hobbit Day is celebrated with food first, questions later. It’s all about simple pleasures – good food, good stories and good company.
Fans gather for “second breakfast,” share afternoon tea or host huge, hearty feasts straight out of the Shire. Tolkien societies around the globe often mark the day with readings, trivia nights and costume parties. Libraries and universities may host marathons of The Lord of the Rings films. And some special pubs raise a toast to Middle-earth with themed ales.
But the biggest celebrations happen in New Zealand’s Hobbiton™. On a normal day visitors can drink at the Green Dragon Inn and wander among the rolling hills, but for Hobbit Day, there’s an extra special program of events with prizes for best dressed, a buffet where second helpings is encouraged, and entertainment to set the mood.
4. Birthday traditions and customs of Hobbit Day
In the Shire, birthdays are less about receiving and more about giving. Instead of piling up presents, hobbits hand out small tokens of appreciation to their guests – this gives them more of a community feeling.
Then there’s food, lots of food – think tables heavy under the weight of pies, stews and cakes – all to be washed down with even more ale. And of course, no party could be complete without music and dancing (and the occasional firework, courtesy of Gandalf).
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5. What do Hobbits eat?
Mealtime is serious business for hobbits. Between breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper their day is truly built around food!
But what to hobbits eat? Usually simple, home-style comfort foods – think fresh-baked bread, hearty roasts or stews, cheese, homemade cakes, seasonal vegetables… all washed down with a pot of tea or mug of ale (depending on the hour). Simplicity is key – as is sitting down for a second breakfast.
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6. Travel inspiration for Hobbit Day
There are plenty of real-world adventures that bring Middle-earth to life. Any hobbit fan should make the trek to New Zealand to wander through the lush pastures of Matamata, home to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set. Stroll past hobbit holes, raise a pint in the Green Dragon Inn – or join a Hobbit Day banquet or seasonal event under twinkling lanterns. Those events are the closest you’ll get to living in the Shire! With Trafalgar, you can step into these stories for yourself with an optional experience on the New Zealand Uncovered trip.
Across the world in England, seek Tolkien’s roots in Oxford’s pubs and libraries, or at Sarehole Mill in Birmingham, said to inspire the Shire’s rolling hills.
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7. FAQs about Hobbit Day
How old are Bilbo and Frodo Baggins?
Bilbo celebrates his famous “eleventy-first” (111th) birthday in The Fellowship of the Ring, while Frodo turns 33, the age hobbits consider adulthood.
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When did J.R.R. Tolkien write The Lord of the Rings?
Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings between 1937 and 1949, publishing it in three volumes from 1954 to 1955. His work reflects decades of worldbuilding, language invention and storytelling craft with a saga of adventure, friendship and moral depth.
When was The Hobbit written?
The Hobbit predates The Lord of the Rings – it was written in the early 1930s and published in 1937. Originally intended as a children’s story, it introduced readers to hobbits, dwarves and dragons with whimsical charm and an adventurous spirit.
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How many books did J.R.R. Tolkien write?
Tolkien wrote several major works, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillion (published posthumously), along with poems, essays and scholarly texts. While he didn’t publish a lot he leaves a legacy as one of the most influential storytellers of the 20th century.
Will you celebrate Hobbit Day? Let us know what you’re planning in the comments…