Hobbit Society and Culture

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

—From JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit

For hobbits, life in the Shire is a good life. To work hard, play hard, dine regularly, and enjoy the company of neighbors; these are values that are held in high esteem in hobbit culture. At the center of the hobbit way of life is a strict code of etiquette that should be followed at all times. A hobbit should be respectable, polite, and courteous, generous and helpful, and should shy away from trouble, in as such, but in a way that is respectable, polite, courteous, generous, and helpful.

In today’s world, humans are too busy to be considerate of each other. They rush around, occupied with everything but accomplishing little. They make little time for family and friends, ignore their neighbors, and eat meals quickly (sometimes without even bothering to sit down). This sort of behavior can only serve to make one more and more ill at ease, impatient, and unhappy.

Hobbits, on the other hand, base their lives on all of the important aspects of community and fellowship. The secret to their happiness lies in their day-to-day focus on relationships with one another and their morals and ethics. It shows in the way they manage their homes, tend their gardens, tackle a day’s work, and conduct themselves.

We could all stand to learn a few things from hobbits and their way of life—a way of life that puts family, friends, and neighbors first. The hobbit way of life is one of good manners and consideration of one’s fellow man … or halfling.

Dwellings

One should keep one’s home tidy and well managed. After all, you never know when someone may stop by for a visit. A well-stocked larder and wine cellar are of the utmost importance for any hobbit of station.

Even when Bilbo Baggins found himself, to his great surprise, entertaining thirteen dwarves because the wizard Gandalf decided to coerce him into joining their expedition, Bilbo was prepared (for the impromptu dinner party, if not for the adventure itself). Bilbo’s neat little hobbit hole was stocked with plenty of seed-cakes, mince-pies, cold chicken, pickles, apple tarts, and beer. In fact, he entertained the dwarves so well that they thought he’d be much more suited as a grocer than a member of their expedition. Bilbo was able to fulfill even the most random refreshment request from the dwarves, so well stocked was his pantry.

Food is obviously important, but one should also always be prepared to make guests feel at home in other ways. You should keep your home tidy and comfortable, and have a plan for guests who may want or need to stay overnight.

A clean and comfortable home, as well as the ability to entertain guests, is a sign of good character. It shows thoughtfulness and consideration. Being a well-prepared host is a duty that everyone should take seriously—hobbits and humans alike.

Comfort and Cleanliness

The home is a reflection of one’s character—in fact of one’s family’s character. It is advisable to keep it neat both inside and out. Your neighbors see your home every day in their comings and goings. If you don’t take care to keep your home in good repair and your garden well managed, neighbors may begin to doubt your good character. And just imagine the first impression such untidiness might make on a stranger. They might think you’re an unruly sort and wrangle you into a nefarious adventure right then and there. Best to keep things tidy and avoid trouble.

The inside of your home requires attention as well. You never know when someone might stop by for a visit. The inside of a hobbit hole is usually clean, tidy, and practical. Plenty of good space exists for storing food, and there are lots of pegs for hanging cloaks and hoods. Any guest would feel most welcome, if a little cozy (hobbits are small, after all).

When considering your own home, comfort is key. Your abode should be warm and inviting. There’s no need to be extravagant—just aspire to keep your surroundings neat and comfortable. Try a few throws and plenty of pillows on the couches and chairs. You’ll be living it up hobbit style in no time.

Seating and Accommodations

It’s a good idea to have plenty of seating and extra beds (or couches that can double as beds). Offering a seat is the first kindness a host should be prepared to extend. And one never knows when one might need to entertain guests overnight or for an extended time. You may want to investigate such options as hideaway beds, futons, or built-in seating along windows—there are plenty of ingenious ideas for maximizing space that would allow you to accommodate even a troupe of treasure-hunting dwarves, though why you would want to do that, one cannot imagine.

The Den

Your den should be cozy with plenty of seating, as you will likely do most of your entertaining here. For hobbits, the focal point of the den is usually the hearth. Hobbits might entertain guests by singing a song or reading a poem by the fireplace.

In today’s world, too often the main living room is also the room where humans keep a television. Guests are often plopped down in front of the tube, and before you know it, everyone is sucked in and no one is talking. Is that really quality time with your guests? Instead, consider entertaining like a hobbit might and engaging your guests in conversation and games. Designate a room without a television (or where the television is hidden in a cabinet) for entertaining guests. You’ll find the time you spend with your guests much more enjoyable and memorable.

The Study or Library

Hobbits love to read, write, and spend quiet time in their studies. A study or library where one keeps shelves of books, a desk, and important documents is a valuable room to have. A comfortable study is a wonderful place for private conversations or for conducting business. It can also serve as a nice change of location if you want to add some variety to a party. You might have your guests retire to the study for a glass of brandy after dinner.

Sleeping Chambers

Bedrooms should be kept neat, clean, and organized. Always keep the beds made and refresh the linens on a regular basis whether you have company or not (it keeps the beds fresh, for one thing). Other nice touches include keeping a current magazine or an intriguing book on the nightstand. Hobbits always think of the little things, and so should you.

The Bath

Hobbits pride themselves on cleanliness, both of home and of person. One’s bathroom should always be kept clean and presentable. Change towels frequently and always make sure you have extra ones for guests. Taking the initiative to quickly tidy your bathroom each day and do a quick spot cleaning will make a world of difference. You’ll not only be ready for unexpected visitors, you’ll improve your own quality of life.

The Kitchen

For a hobbit, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. (Actually, that’s probably true for anyone, human and halfling alike. Just ask yourself where your guests gravitate whenever you have a party. Odds are they end up standing around in the kitchen with a frothy beverage in hand.)

A hobbit’s kitchen is small and neatly organized, but packed full of useful items: pots, pans, spoons, bowls, plates, cups, and saucers. Everything is within quick reach, but somehow kept neatly. Some may call it organized clutter, but a hobbit kitchen is a place where one can easily find whatever is needed. Hobbits usually have a cellar for storing wine, beer, and other items that keep, but most of their ingredients—flour, grains, butter, eggs, fresh vegetables—are kept in a nearby larder. They keep a close watch on their food and rotate their perishables constantly. Nothing has a chance to go bad in a hobbit’s kitchen.

Versatility and coziness makes a hobbit kitchen a warm and inviting room where guests enjoy spending time. Guests often pitch in with the cooking and everyone enjoys the food preparation nearly as much as the eating. If you follow the hobbit kitchen example, entertaining your guests might be as easy as handing them a cold beer and inviting them to help you start dinner.

The Garden

While you may think that the inside of your home is what counts, it’s a good idea to keep your flower beds and lawn manicured, lest the community begin to think ill of you. Having a well-tended garden will help give the outside of your home an inviting appearance. Your neighbors will be impressed and think highly of you, and any guests you entertain will develop a favorable impression before you even invite them inside (which you should do immediately, by the way).

And besides, gardening is a joy—who doesn’t love nature? Nature is a wonderful thing, as long as you have a comfortable home to go back to and you’re not off somewhere on an awful adventure, sleeping outdoors. Having a well-kept garden and raising some vegetables is a worthwhile undertaking. Being outside, tending the earth, and watching things grow helps to cultivate calmness and peace of mind. In fact, Samwise Gamgee, who accompanied Frodo Baggins on his quest to throw the Ring of Power into the fires of Mount Doom, was a gardener. The meditative nature of gardening likely contributed to Sam’s optimism and patience, which helped him support Frodo on such a dreadful undertaking.

On Entertaining Guests

One should count oneself lucky to have visitors! A visit from someone for a spot of tea or a quick morsel of seed-cake can be the bright spot of any day. Guests should always be held in the highest regard and treated with the proper decorum. A hobbit takes his duty to the well-being of his guests very seriously. One should make a guest feel welcome, with hearty greetings and plentiful refreshments.

In our own lives, we far too often take the easy path and eat out at a local restaurant or tavern. We avoid entertaining in the home, opting instead for a quick happy hour at the local pub (actually, that sounds like a valid choice when thinking like a hobbit). But having visitors can be a great pleasure, despite the work involved. Consider storing a few extra bottles of wine, stocking some beer or soda, and keeping some snacks on hand, and soon you’ll be entertaining in grand hobbit style. Remember to always keep your ice trays full, and form the habit of offering a little something whenever someone stops by. Your friends will think you very resourceful and will appreciate your generous hospitality.

Welcoming Guests

Never keep a guest waiting on the doorstep. Make sure to invite them in quickly and offer to take their coats, hats, cloaks, hoods, or outer garments of choice. Offer them a place to sit straightaway—a guest’s comfort should be your utmost concern.

Next, offer refreshments. If it is a quick visit, tea and cakes are usually appropriate. If the visit is a lengthy one or if it is close to a mealtime, invite the guest to join you for the meal.

In the case that the visit isn’t a social one, but instead a matter of business, you may wait until after matters have been discussed to offer refreshment.

The Host’s Duty

Hobbits are highly concerned with making their guests feel wanted. Even when Bilbo found his home filled with dwarves who were seeking adventure, of all things, he did his best to entertain them.

As a host, one should always offer guests the first choice of all refreshments. In the unfortunate instance that there isn’t enough for everyone, the host should politely do without, making excuses of having had a rather large second breakfast. This may be a difficult sacrifice; however, be careful not to show disappointment. Look to your duties and be gracious.

Overnight Guests

When one has overnight guests, make every attempt to provide proper accommodations. If possible, guests should have a room of their own, even if the host has to give up his own room and sleep on the couch.

Be sure to provide fresh bed linens, towels, washcloths, and a bottle of water or designated tumbler for drinking water.

Passersby

One should greet folks passing by with a hearty “Good Morning” (or “Good Afternoon” or “Good Evening,” depending on the time of day). Small talk about the weather is recommended, especially if it is a fine day. Offer the person a spot of tea or a pipe of whatever leaf you’re smoking. Nothing can complement a fine day more than sharing in life’s little pleasures.

Greeting strangers is more than just a kindness; you never know who a stranger may turn out to be. The day Bilbo met Gandalf, he was simply enjoying a nice morning when the wizard happened by. Bilbo greeted him kindly, though he suspected Gandalf capable of mischief, which he was, of course. But in the end they became the best of friends.

Unexpected Guests

When an unexpected guest drops by for a visit, one should do one’s best to make them feel welcome and comfortable. Invite them to sit and offer them whatever refreshments you have on hand.

Unwelcome Guests

In the case of an unwelcome guest, it is still important to uphold your duty as host. Though you are in a difficult position, you should remain pleasant and cordial. It is still advisable to make time for a polite conversation and offer refreshment. Anything less would be rude.

When Guests Overstay Their Welcome

Hobbits have an interesting approach to dealing with guests who stay longer than what is considered a reasonable time (for hobbits this is more than a month; as a human, it’s considerably less). Hobbits rarely ask someone to leave. Instead, when a guest shows no signs of leaving, a hobbit will inform them that they are now a member of the household and begin to assign them household duties.

You may want to employ this tactic with guests who stay too long. You’ll likely find that it works like a charm, and they’ll be looking for somewhere else to go rather quickly.

When Approached by a Solicitor

Even when dealing with solicitors you should employ a measure of politeness and decorum. Thank them for extending their gracious offer, even if it is something as deplorable as being involved in an adventure. After thanking them, you may decline their kind offer and wish them “Good Day.”

Being a Guest

Hobbits are generally careful to be good guests. They are considerate of their host and try to employ all of their good manners lest they damage their reputation. To impose upon one’s host is a terrible social blunder.

From time to time one may have the occasion to be a guest either in someone’s home or in a setting such as a gathering, party, or outing. It is of the utmost importance to conduct oneself in such a manner as to be the sort of guest that a host is glad to see and welcomes with open arms.

Invitations and RSVPs

Upon receiving an invitation to a gathering or special occasion, one should make every attempt to respond as soon as possible. It is rude to keep your host guessing how many will attend her affair. It should go without saying that one should always remember to thank the host for extending the invitation, whether you accept or decline.

Arriving on Time

One should make every attempt to arrive at an occasion near the appointed time. To arrive early may interrupt your host’s attempts to make final preparations and may cause them undue stress. Arriving late in order to make a grand entrance shows a disregard for your host’s position as the center of attention and is, quite simply, rude.

Gift for the Host

Hobbits always try to bring along a small token of thanks for their host, be it a bottle of wine or a freshly baked loaf of bread. Human or halfling, it’s always a good idea to bring a little something along to show your appreciation for being invited.

Staying Overnight

On the occasion that one stays overnight, one should respect the host’s personal routine and make every effort to adhere to their schedule, retiring for the evening and rising in the morning at their usual time. You may be unaccustomed to keeping their hours, but make an attempt so you don’t disrupt your host’s day-to-day life. You are a guest, after all.

Extended Stays

In the event that one is staying with a host for a longer period of time, one should offer to help with any household chores: cleaning, tidying, or preparing meals. One should be careful not to overstay one’s welcome. Watch for signs that your welcome may be wearing thin. It’s better to leave early and express regrets if you notice your host is tiring of your company, though, any good host will undoubtedly make every attempt to hide it.

Social Behavior

Society is very important to hobbits. They love feeling like they are part of a community and spend much of their time visiting friends and neighbors, participating in Shire events, and socializing. Naturally, they dedicate a great deal of thought and energy to practicing proper etiquette.

Hobbits take behavior and decorum very seriously. The way one conducts oneself in public or in the company of others is crucial to maintaining one’s reputation. Being humble, gracious, and courteous are signs of good character.

Keeping Appointments

Hobbits take keeping appointments quite seriously. However, they are busy little folks and are prone to forgetfulness from time to time—there are so many people to visit and so many meals to prepare and enjoy, after all. Bilbo was fond of keeping an engagement tablet so that he wouldn’t forget his appointments. It’s a good idea to do the same. A handy pocket calendar will do the trick (or, being a human in the days of men, you may want to simply enter reminders on your smartphone). Just make sure you don’t miss a single commitment!

Correspondence

Hobbits have an affinity for writing letters. They can be very long-winded, using florid language that often verges on poetry (they enjoy poetry very much). In today’s world people often don’t take enough time to really correspond with others. They send quick e-mails, texts, or tweets. But how can you convey true emotion and sentiment using such limited mediums? Take some time once in a while to handwrite a thoughtful card or letter. It will convey more than just words and is sure to be appreciated.

Making Speeches

Hobbits can be long-winded. Their speeches will likely go on and on (and on) with lots of references to lineage and nods to tradition. This is probably one area of hobbit culture that you might consider an unnecessary pursuit, unless you simply love to hear yourself talk. In fact, just forget we ever mentioned it.

Listening to Speeches

Hobbits are very gracious listeners. When other people are speaking, they pay attention, seemingly hanging on every word (aside from elder hobbits, who often fall asleep but are excused because of their age and station in the Shire). When someone is speaking you should do your very best to be attentive—even if the person is a tiresome orator. Save your own comments, questions, or anecdotes for after they’ve finished; you’d expect to be afforded the same consideration.

Accepting Honors or Awards

When receiving an award or some form of recognition, hobbits consider it polite to make mention of thanks to each hobbit lineage by family name, from Bagginses to Zaragambas. One should be careful when planning an acceptance speech, so as not to show favor to one friend or family member over another. Being gracious when you accept an honor is a way to show good character, so make sure you give credit to everyone—even to those you don’t feel deserve it. Speeches are not times to make pointed remarks or to get in a dig at someone. Always take the higher path.

Paying the Check

When it comes to picking up the check, you can learn a lot from hobbits, who typically make a grand display of manners when it comes time to settle up at a tavern or restaurant. Everyone will offer to pay for everyone else. They can go on for hours saying things like, “No, no … it’s my turn,” or “Oh, but I believe you paid last time,” or “But you stopped by the other day with those lovely seed-cakes,” and so on. It’s important to actually remember whose turn it is. That person should pick up the tab or risk damage to his reputation. When you truly can’t remember whose turn it is, a good solution may be to order another round and preemptively pay for that round while the rest of the party works out the mystery amongst themselves. You’ll have paid your share, and your companions will be grateful for the aid you’ve provided in sorting out the dilemma—after an extra pint, everything should make perfect sense.

Giving Gifts

In the age of man, gift giving has gotten out of control. Holiday spending has become an obligatory source of stress. Many people often give gifts with the intention of one-upping each other or because they don’t want to receive a gift without having given one. In their minds, everyone must be even steven, fair and square. They don’t even realize they’re going to all this trouble for the wrong reasons. And with the senseless rush to buy presents for everyone and the temptation to exceed the value of gifts given the year before, the whole thing has escalated to a madness somewhat akin to the Battle of Helms Deep. Just ask anyone who’s ever been in a 3-mile radius of a shopping mall during the holidays. One might prefer to face a horde of rampaging orcs.

Hobbits, on the other hand, have a more laid-back approach to gift giving. Gifts are given, but they are usually simple and thoughtful: homemade baked goods, small toys for children, or a useful item crafted by hand (a small piece of furniture, perhaps). Most important, gifts are never expected, nor are they given out of obligation.

Delivering Good News

Hobbits love to deliver good news. Good news is usually conveyed alongside delicious food, tankards of ale, and plenty of pipeweed to go around. In order to deliver the news properly, hobbits figure that it is best to sample the ale and have a pipe or two before guests arrive, in order to achieve the proper mood and also to make sure the offerings are worthy of the occasion. Humans usually wait for everyone to arrive at their gathering before enjoying such refreshments. But why endure waiting on such a celebratory occasion? Best to make the most of it and enjoy the mood. Just make sure you have plenty of fine refreshments; your friends will be so delighted with your good news that they won’t mind that you’ve already tucked in, and will likely have no problem quickly catching up. The celebrations will be in full swing in no time.

Delivering Bad News

Bad news is never fun to deliver. Hobbits usually try to soften the blow by making sure there is ample comfort food, many tankards of ale, and plenty of pipeweed to go around. In order to deliver the news properly, hobbits figure that it is best to sample the ale and have a pipe or two in order to brace themselves and also to make sure the offerings might help lift dampened spirits. Humans usually wait for everyone to arrive before taking sustenance, but when dealing with bad news one may need a little something just to get through the day. Best to take the edge off so you may lend a strong shoulder to others. Just make sure you have plenty of supplies on hand; your friends won’t begrudge you sustenance under the circumstances, and given the seriousness of the situation they’ll likely have no problem catching up. The commiseration will be well underway in no time.

Relationships and Family

Little is more important to a hobbit than family and friends. They sing songs about the kindness and character of their ancestors. Their whole lifestyle is planned around fellowship in the community. Hobbits always think of others first and foremost.

Friendship

It has already been mentioned that hobbits are fiercely loyal friends. The bond of friendship is nearly as important to a hobbit as bonds with their own family. Hobbits will do almost anything for a friend, as evidenced by the way Sam, Merry, and Pippin quickly join Frodo on his ring quest in spite of the many dangers they know they will face. The hobbits had several chances to turn back or avoid battle, but each one rose to the occasion to stand alongside his friends. Anyone who can say they have a friend as loyal as a hobbit is truly blessed.

Courtship

Hobbits tend to marry after a courtship of at least several months—sometimes years—during which the couple engages in such respectable activities as dancing and going for walks. Hobbits exchange courting gifts, usually flowers from the male and baked goods from the female. On occasion, humans rush into marriage. The hobbits’ courtship customs are a good reminder that it’s important to allow for a lengthy engagement so that love and friendship for one’s betrothed may blossom and grow.

Marriage

Hobbit marriages typically occur outdoors in the spring and the entire Shire usually attends. Much like human ceremonies, the bride wears a dress (often white), while the bridegroom wears a good shirt and his very best vest. They exchange poetic vows and then have a great outdoor feast accompanied by beer, wine, singing, and dancing.

In many ways, hobbit weddings are very much like human weddings. One notable exception is the absence of line dancing. If humans could learn one thing from hobbits, and one thing only, it might be that they should never have invented the Electric Slide.

Raising Children

Hobbits, with their love of family and community, are naturally wonderful parents. They are incredibly nurturing and protective of their young. Young hobbits, known as faunts, are often playful and may show an interest in mischief and adventure. This behavior is tolerated to a certain age, as hobbits hope that allowing such follies in youth will allow children to get it out of their systems early instead of going off on some foolish quest later in life. As humans often say, but just as often forget, “Kids will be kids.” Be sure to teach your kids good values, but remember that children need to play and have their fun so they can be upstanding adults when the time comes.

Siblings

In hobbit culture, siblings are usually very close. They’ve played together, worked the fields together, and grown up together. If hobbit friends are close, then siblings are usually even closer—often becoming business partners as they assume the family vocation. Unlike human society, you don’t see much sibling rivalry among hobbits—they know there is plenty of love and mutual respect to go around, as long as everyone carries their fair share of the load.

Parents

Hobbits treat their parents with the utmost respect. Young hobbits, for the most part, strive to make their parents proud. They typically work hard at learning the family trade and most assume their parents’ line of work. Later in life, as their parents age, hobbits do whatever is needed to care for their parents and to keep them comfortable and happy (hobbits tend to lead quite long lives, so the bond between parents and children is a very strong one). While humans today may live much farther away and often pursue professions outside the family trade, it is still important to keep close ties with your parents. Don’t get so caught up in your own routine that you forget to show your parents love and appreciation. We owe our parents our lives, quite literally.

Extended Family

Uncles, aunts, and cousins are always welcome. An unspoken standing invitation prevails among hobbit family members, and one’s home is always open to family (even distant relatives). Hobbits tend to keep close contact with members of their extended families, often designating a day of the week for an extended family gathering. They also write plenty of letters and share all of the latest news and gossip. As humans, we really have no excuse not to follow the hobbit example and keep closer contact with our families—in this day and age of the Internet and social media.

Elders

Elder hobbits have an important place in hobbit society. They are revered for their wise council and often serve as leaders in the community. Younger hobbits are eager to lend their elders a hand with chores, and they stop in to check on them frequently, often bringing them a loaf of freshly baked bread, a pie, or a pouch of Longbottom Leaf. Always remember, your elders have the wisdom of experience, and if you are kind to them, they’ll likely reward you with valuable advice.

Work

Hobbits believe in good, honest work. Favored hobbit occupations include farming, gardening, carpentry, masonry, and butchering. Hobbits love to make things with their hands and believe that items should be well prepared or well crafted, otherwise one might as well not bother. A day’s work is something one should take pride in. One should do one’s best and commit fully to the task at hand. In your own work, no matter what it is, the hobbit’s approach will serve you well. That said, hobbits also believe in taking full advantage of leisure time. One should always pause in work for the purpose of regular meals, naps, and leisurely activities.

Leisure

When it comes to pleasures in life, leisure comes in second only to food for hobbits. Halflings are fond of music and poetry; they enjoy singing and making up funny songs to entertain each other. They use any chance they can for celebration and love any occasion to dance. Hobbits enjoy sport and will engage in such lawn games as quoits, bowls, or ninepins. In taverns they enjoy a good game of darts.

Music

Hobbits enjoy music of all kinds. Most of their songs are lighthearted ditties, drinking songs, and ballads or folk songs that recount tales passed down from their ancestors. Most hobbits won’t admit it, but they also enjoy hearing songs of foreign lands, adventure, and heroes. While they shy away from adventure, they love a good tale, especially in the form of an epic ballad. The lesson hobbits give humans on music is to listen with a nonjudgmental ear and to appreciate the songs of other cultures. You’ll enjoy music all the more if you do.

Dancing

Dancing comes naturally to hobbits. Any creature that goes barefoot all the time is bound to love doing a soft shoe once in a while. Hobbit dancing is typically very jolly, with lots of bouncing around and kicking of one’s feet. Hobbits dance more for fun than for expression. You won’t find a lot of artistic interpretation going on in a hobbit dance—no dark or suggestive undertones. No bumping or grinding or popping and locking. Just good clean fun. Now, doesn’t that sound nice?

Reading

Books are a joy to hobbits, who love to read all kinds of stories and poems, from tales of the old days to stories of the elves, many of which are full of adventure and treasure (a guilty pleasure for hobbits). Hobbits love to share books with one another, and they keep detailed records of the contents of their libraries, who they lent books to, and notes on what the reader said about the book upon returning it. For hobbits, books are more than just stories; they are treasured items to be handled, dog-eared, shared, and passed down as heirlooms.

Today we rarely appreciate the thought and care put into the narrative. We don’t savor books and take time to consider all the experi-ences writers must have drawn upon when writing them. Books have become disposable and impermanent. Want to get the most out of life the way a hobbit would? Want to experience that authentic feeling of holding something old and treasured in your hands—sort of like a ring of power, only without the side effects of a pesky evil influence? Try picking up a real book once in a while.

Writing

Hobbits are very thoughtful creatures and enjoy keeping detailed chronicles of their daily lives. They are quick to take up the pen and spend the day recording their thoughts, visits with other folks, and tales of their ancestors, often embellishing details. In the event that they find themselves involved in some adventure, hobbits will fill volumes and volumes with the details of everything they saw, smelled, ate, and experienced. Even a dreadful situation makes a good story, and hobbits love a good story almost as much as they love food.

Sport

If you visit the Shire on any given day, you’ll see hobbits engaged in any number of games—outdoor games with balls or discs, games of chess or checkers, tavern games, and the like. Hobbits love to play. The rules of the games are sometimes hard to discern, as they can be changed on a whim. Hobbits aren’t usually very competitive, and the game itself isn’t as important to them as the act of playing. Spending time with friends at any diversion is what they enjoy.

Humans can be so obsessed with rules that the games they play can cease to be fun and occasionally lead to fights. Even spectator sports, which may start with a simple rivalry between fans of different teams, can from time to time erupt into all-out brawls. Best to follow the example of hobbits and remember that it’s only a game, after all.

Smoke Rings

Smoking may be the hobbit’s favorite pastime. The hobbits invented the art of smoking pipeweed, an herb cultivated in the Shire after it was introduced to the region by Númenóreans, who were men from a distant land. The Rangers of the North and the dwarves call it Halflings’s Leaf. It’s an herb of numerous varieties: Longbottom Leaf, Southern Star, Old Toby. Each is named after the area of the Shire it is grown in.

Hobbits smoke the herb using pipes made of clay or wood. The burning leaves produce a rich, thick smoke that is excellent for blowing smoke rings. Hobbits can spend entire afternoons blowing rings of different sizes, shapes, and configurations and watching them soar into the sky. Much like cloud gazing, they’ll watch the shapes drift and change, and they’ll think of different things those shapes might look like.

It’s all a complete waste of time, of course. And an unhealthy habit to boot. But who are humans to judge with all the different—and often much worse—drugs and chemicals some of them imbibe? And heck, doesn’t everyone deserve to spend a lazy day looking up at the sky once in a while? (For more discourse on pipeweed, see “Concerning Food, Drink, and Pipeweed” on page 3).

On Parties

Occasions worth celebrating should not be taken lightly. Hobbit parties consist of plenty of food, beer, and dancing. And while consorting with wizards is normally considered deplorable, turning a blind eye for parties is recommended since wizards tend to share wonderful stories and fireworks.

As humans, we all know someone who is full of mischief and can cause trouble the same way a wizard can. If you want to make your party an occasion to remember, you might consider inviting that person. It may not be a good idea, but it will certainly make for a memorable party.

Holidays

Hobbits love holidays. A couple of prominent holidays in hobbit culture are Lithe, which is a midsummer holiday celebrated with feasting and merriment, and Yule, which is a midwinter holiday celebrated with feasting and merriment. Celebrations for both holidays can last weeks or months, so you can imagine the sheer amount of feasting and merriment to be had. Simple gifts may be given as part of hobbit holiday celebrations but are given freely and never out of obligation. People can look to hobbits as a reminder of what holidays should really be about, and that is fellowship.

Wealth

Hobbits are typically quite good with managing wealth. Bilbo had plenty of money that he’d inherited from his ancestors, particularly from the Took side of his family (the Tooks were rather adventurous for hobbits and had accumulated quite a bit of wealth). Bilbo never lived extravagantly—hobbits rarely do—but instead used his wealth to live comfortably and to extend kindnesses to others, including his unexpected dwarf houseguests at the beginning of his adventures.

Humans would do well to follow the example of hobbits in handling their own money. Managing your finances in a smart way is undoubtedly a good practice, but money can easily corrupt you and make you greedy. Remember to share your good fortune, and you’ll not only make someone else’s day but you’ll be doing yourself a service as well.

Greed

In the final chapters of The Hobbit, Bilbo and the dwarves find themselves under siege by men of Esgaroth, asking for a percentage of the dragon Smaug’s treasure to use for rebuilding their town after it was destroyed by Smaug. Thorin, leader of the dwarves, feels that the men had no claim to the treasure, as it originally belonged to Thorin’s ancestors. Bilbo, realizing that the two forces are at the brink of war, uses his portion of the treasure to negotiate an amiable resolution. Ultimately, he offers his share of the treasure to the men to rebuild their town.

Bilbo’s example reminds us that money should be used for the greater good. Bilbo saw the plight of the men who were threatening his friends and was able to empathize when the dwarves could not. Bilbo knew that his portion of the treasure—no matter how great it was—was less important than helping people in need and finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Repaying Debts

On his return journey, Bilbo gifts the Wood-elf king a necklace in thanks for providing bread and wine. In this way Bilbo demonstrates the importance of repaying your debts. In doing so you will maintain friendships and alliances that may be useful to you again some other day. Plus, it’s simply the right thing to do.

Taking Only What You Need

Before returning to the Shire, Bilbo and Gandalf stop off to reclaim some treasure they buried after a narrow escape from trolls. Bilbo took a couple saddlebags of gold and silver and offered the rest to Gandalf. Bilbo simply felt he had all he needed. Hobbits are rarely greedy. They know what they need in order to live comfortably and know that anything more will likely serve to make their lives more complicated. What do you need to live a comfortable life? Seriously consider this question and keep in mind that grasping for anything more often leads to unhappiness.