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Raise a glass to the Professor in honour of his 126th birthday
J.R.R. Tolkien by Pamela Chandler. © Diana Willson
J.R.R. Tolkien by Pamela Chandler. © Diana Willson

To mark J.R.R. Tolkien’s twelfty-sixth (126th) birthday, The Tolkien Society invites fans all over the world to participate in our annual Birthday Toast.

The Toast

After Bilbo left the Shire on his eleventy-first birthday in The Lord of the Rings, Frodo toasted his uncle’s birthday each year on 22 September.

J.R.R. Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein on 3 January 1892, and we invite you to celebrate the birthday of this much loved author by raising a glass at 9pm your local time.

The toast is simply:

The Professor!

All you need to do is stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words “The Professor” before taking a sip (or swig, if that’s more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink.

Note that we do not condone drinking alcohol if it endangers the health or safety of the drinker or others, or contravenes the law.

#TolkienBirthdayToast

Let everyone know what you’ll be drinking and where in the comments below, and share your pictures on Twitter or Facebook using #TolkienBirthdayToast.

If you’re not already a member, why not celebrate by joining The Tolkien Society too?

About the Author: Daniel Helen
Daniel is an Officer without Portfolio and Trustee of The Tolkien Society. Elected in 2014, he is mainly responsible for the Society's digital operations, including this website.