Hobbit Society Meeting (November)

During the Hobbit Society meeting on Friday we talked about food and culture seen in Tolkien's works. With Thanksgiving coming soon the topics of food made sense. Some of the foods we discussed were cram, lembas bread, and the orc liquor. These foods (and orc drink) are all foods of nourishment that keep a person going. These foods are not extraordinarily delicious but do keep a person going on a little amount of actual food. For us people you could say potatoes and bread serve a similar purpose of foods that can keep us going even though they aren't the most palatable by themselves.
We discussed the importance of celebrations and how different celebrations are had in The Lord of the Rings. The main example we have in the books is Bilbo's birthday party. At the party there is plenty of food for even hobbits and plenty of drink. We as humans often associate similar 'feasts' with celebrations. A celebration is almost always accompanied by a meal, whether it be a dinner for a birthday, a luncheon for a promotion, or a reception for a wedding. Food is always tied with a celebration regardless of the circumstance. It is interesting that something so mundane and vital as eating has been incorporated into all of our greatest moments in life.