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Middle-earth Weekend 2010 Saturday and Sunday May 15th and 16th at the usual venue of Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground within The Shire Country Park. The weekend is an event suitable for fans of Tolkien's stories, for children and their families and anyone who enjoys a festival with an 'old-fashioned' feel about it. Literature, music and drama, re-enactment societies, and archery can be enjoyed as well as plenty of hands-on activities such as a puppet making workshop based around Tolkien's characters from his books, a costume parade, miniature railway, old-fashioned swing boats, and (as they say) much much more! The Tolkien Tent has information for fans and those interested in the history of the area in which Tolkien spent his childhood years. A treat this year will be information relating to The Staffordshire Hoard. As many of you will already know, J.R.R. Tolkien was Professor of Anglo-saxon at Oxford and would be delighted with this discovery. The curator helping to co-ordinate arrangements for this discovery in Birmingham also doubles up now and then as a 'medieval dentist' and we hope to have him make a guest appearance together with his blood-thirsty dental instruments. The Craft Tent has home made crafts for sale for souvenirs or gifts and the Activity Tent hosts a variety of workshops for all ages. Rangers will be on hand to inform visitors about The Shire Country Park. Walks will be offered throughout the day around Moseley Bog and 'The Shire'. Booking may be necessary for some of the activities taking place.
The theme for 2010 is "The Mariner: Sailing Around Middle-earth" This year Vivienne Wilkes a member of the organising group, is unable to take much of a role in preparing this event. She is, however, looking forward to visiting over the weekend in her role as Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, together with Michael Wilkes, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. This honour means they have something in common with Sam, who you will recall was elected Mayor of the Shire. He was appointed Mayor for 7 times until stepping down aged 96. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham is appointed for one year only. The Meaning of Middle-earth Middle-earth is used by Tolkien to desribe 'the world of men' in the imaginary world of his books. However, Tolkien believed that in order to create imaginary lands and stories, they must have their roots in reality. In an interview he once stated, 'If you really want to know know what Middle-earth is based on, it's my wonder and delight in the Earth as it is, particularly the natural earth'. Tolkien's love of the Icelandic myths and the legends of the North meant he was very familiar with the expression as described below. Mišgaršr is a name used in Old Norse literature. In Old English epic poetry it appears as Middangeard, later evolving as Middellaerd or Middle Earth in Middle English literature. it is a realm in Norse mythology somewhere in the middle of Yggdrasil, the world tree that links the realms of existence. The tree of Yggdrasil had its roots extending below our realm of existence into the underworld. This was the third level - Hel, the world of the dead. The trunk grew through our world, the second level - the world of men, known as middle earth.The trees branches extended high above ours into the upperworld, the first level - Asgard the world of the gods. As a warning for our times maybe, according to the ancient tales, middle earth will be destroyed at Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world. Jormungadnr the giant serpent will rise from the ocean, poisoning the land and sea with his venom and causing the sea to rear up and lash against the land causing middle earth to sink below the waves.
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