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As a man whose childhood was darkened by persecution I find this hard but
charity must cover a multitude of sins - Tolkien
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The day on which the Ring is finally destroyed is the 25th of March and the day on which the Fellowship commence their Quest is the 25th of December. [LotR Appendix B - Tale of the Years p.1069]. In historical Christian calendars these are the dates of the Birth of Jesus and the Crucifixion of Jesus. The fact that these dates are probably not the actual dates of these great events in Christ's life isn't really important, as what counts is the fact that the Church chose these dates to honour and celebrate them. 25th of December [or very close] is also the day on which Narsil, the ancient Sword of Elendil is reforged and renamed Andúril by Aragorn. In one checks Christian history, it gives a more detailed account: [from Catholic Encyclopedia].
This understanding of the 25th of March has changed in more recent times within the Church, but it seems extremely coincidental that the start of the Quest begins on the traditional date of the Birth of Jesus, and the end of the Quest ends on the traditional date of the Death of Jesus. The day that Middle-earth is saved is on the same date that our own world has been saved. This certainly provides the link or bond if you like, between Tolkien's mythology and traditional Christian understanding. When all of the other themes and parallels are weighed up and you add in this seeming coincidence, it does add credence to Tolkien's desire to pass truth, Christian Truth, through his story.
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