Hobbitcore Holidays
Gathering, Feasting, and the Joy of the Season
As the air turns crisp and the days shorten, I always find myself slipping deeper into hobbit mode! Do you find yourself there, too? Craving candlelight, simple but cozy food, and the company of those I love. Autumn-into-winter is a season tailor-made for the hobbits among us!
Of course, not everyone greets this turn of the year with gladness. This can be a season many dread, thanks to the cold, the darkness, and the loneliness that sometimes creeps in when the light fades early. Yet winter, like all seasons, holds its own quiet gifts and purposes if we learn to see them!
We cannot stop the frost or lengthen the days, but we can choose to make them lifegiving where we are able to. Through a spirit of gratitude or a small daily ritual of comfort, we can transform the season into something healing. Hygge (oh one of my favorite words!) reminds us that joy need not be fancy to be real.
This time of year can easily rush by in a blur of busyness, but hobbit living invites us to slow down. Let us set the table, light the hearth (electric or otherwise), savor the smell of roasting squash and spiced cider, and remember that our homes can be little pockets of peace in a very weary world.
What can the holidays look like this year through the lens of hobbit homemaking?
A Small Nod to October’s End
For those who enjoy a touch of Halloween, I am certainly not the expert Tolkien scholar, but I imagine hobbits would likely approach it with good humor and simple pleasures. Perhaps the day would feature a lantern walk, a bit of mischief among the children, and plenty of seed cakes and cider for the grown-ups. It’s a night for fireside tales (not too frightening!) and laughter that echoes down the lane.
Even if you don’t mark the day itself, the spirit of the end of October, the harvest, the gathering in, the flicker of light in the dark all feels like a quiet turning point. The harvest is done! The last apples are stored. The earth begins to rest and recover before she wakes back up in the spring.
The Discipline of Slowing Down in a Busy Season
The holidays are often described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” yet for many of us, they arrive with the heavy weight of expectation. Days are endless with to-do lists, numerous gatherings, and good things that still somehow add up to too much.
But hobbits remind us that joy is found not in doing it all, but in being fully present for the simple, good things that matter most.
You don’t have to attend every event, say yes to every invitation, or make every craft and recipe you see online. The beauty of the season isn’t in the hustle and bustle; it’s in the quiet moments where love can actually be felt and shared. From a place of peace.
As a recovering people-pleaser myself, I would like to humbly offer a few ways to slow down when life begins to rush ahead:
Leave space in your days. Not every evening (nor every weekend) needs a plan. Let the margin itself be a kind of celebration with room for wonder, rest, and reflection. It is not evil or wrong to say no to an event and take that time for your family or for yourself. Some might even be very fun! But days upon days of fun become draining and wear us down, even leaving us more susceptible to sickness.
Reclaim the table. Instead of rushing from one thing to another, linger after dinner. Light candles, sip something warm, and let conversation wander. Get in touch with your family’s hearts, or even just your own. Play games! Catch up, don’t rush through to check it off your list.
Practice mindful gifting. Choose gifts that carry meaning, not just obligation. A handwritten note or a jar of homemade jam can speak volumes. I actually prefer handmade and secondhand gifts that spark delight or serve a purpose! Even if not homemade or thrifted, shop with meaning. “It’s the thought that counts” hearkens true every time! Thought matters more than size or price.
Keep Sabbath at the center. Whether that’s a full day of rest or a few hours unplugged, make room for your soul to breathe. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, speaks to a truth that feels especially needed this time of year! That hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life. We can’t live deeply connected to Jesus when our souls are constantly rushing. Sabbath helps us to remember who we are and whose we are. To cease striving, to rest, to delight. When we step off the hamster wheel of productivity and simply be, we begin to hear God again in the stillness.
Find joy in the making. Knead bread slowly, hang evergreens with care, hum as you wrap gifts… the doing can be worship when it’s unhurried. In a rushing world, simple, hands-on tasks bring stillness to the mind. There’s a peace that comes when our hands are busy with gentle, tangible work that grounds us in the present moment.
The truth is, peace rarely announces itself in the noise! It slips in quietly and is only noticed by those who have slowed down enough to really see it. Peace must be prioritized.
Thanksgiving: The Feast of Gratitude
Thanksgiving, for hobbit hearts, wouldn’t just be a meal, rather a philosophy.
Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude; this means taking the time to see, honor, and acknowledge what’s good: the bread on the table, the faces across it, the hands that helped make it.
In Tolkien’s world, there’s always a deep sense of gratitude for the ordinary: for mushrooms gathered in the woods, a fire that’s warm, and friends who share in both laughter and loss (and of course, a good tree).
So this Thanksgiving, perhaps we can make space for a slower rhythm:
Rise early and give thanks before the day begins, or enjoy the later hours when all is quiet to dwell on the good.
Cook something from scratch, even if it’s small! Bonus: this is money-saving too.
Invite someone in who might otherwise be alone.
Leave the dishes for a moment and step outside to breathe in the cold air, remembering how good it is simply to be alive. Pause and ponder. Enjoy the sun setting on the trees!
Feasting doesn’t have to be fancy! In true hobbit fashion, it’s the togetherness that makes it sacred.
On the topic of gratitude, I came across a fantastic account on Instagram this week who is sharing Liturgy of the Little Things this November. You can find more from Sarah Westfall here at her direct post:
Together, we will spend the month of November cultivating a habit of soulful attention as we look for goodness amid the everyday details of our lives. We will delight in the small and the sacred, allowing its substance to connect us to God, to each other, and to these lives we are already living.
Whether you join us for one day or all thirty, that part is up to you. (We hold the word “challenge” very loosely.) But I hope that this communal practice gives us permission to pause and to see these little glimmers of light, reminding us of the steady goodness of God and the specificity of his love in the here and now.—Sarah Westfall, Liturgy of the Little Things
For further reading on Thanksgiving, I have a previously written post for you! In The Hobbit Homemaker’s Guide to Thanksgiving, I share ideas for recipes, what to watch and read, how to set a Thanksgiving table hobbit-style, and more.
What if our tables this year looked a little more like the Shire? Overflowing not with excess, but with gratitude, laughter and fellowship, and the good work of our hands?
Christmas: A Season of Light and Homecoming
Tolkien doesn’t explicitly mention Christmas in The Lord of the Rings, though The Hobbit does make mention of a Christmas tree. What we do read about in Middle-earth is called Yuletide, which would likely be a celebration akin to Christmas and New Years!
When I picture Christmas in the Shire, I imagine Yule logs burning bright, holly on the mantel, and carols sung by lamplight. The hobbits would celebrate with hearty meals, gift-giving from the heart (can you imagine, knowing how they celebrate birthdays?!), and perhaps even a bit of mischief under the mistletoe.
But most of all, Christmas (like Advent) calls us back to home. Not just the four walls we live in, but the inner home of our hearts.
This season, let’s:
Hang greenery in our homes to remind us of everlasting life.
Light candles in remembrance and in hope.
Share small, thoughtful gifts like a jar of jam, a handwritten note, or a loaf of bread to remind others they’re thought of and loved.
Tell the good stories again! Those of long-awaited light, of a King born in a stable, of good triumphing quietly over darkness.
Christmas inspired by hobbitry would be one of warmth, faith, and the joy of simple things shared among friends.
A theme I have been seeing on social media of late is excitement for a Little Women Christmas. Reels of homemade decor, caroling, and steaming mugs of wassail all make me think these are two “aesthetics” that could easily be married!
Both the March sisters and the hobbits knew the sacredness of home, of gathering close when the world outside was cold and uncertain. Theirs were humble tables, but rich with laughter and love. A Little Women Christmas makes me think of crackling fires, homemade gifts tied up in string, and the joy of giving even when there’s not much to spare. A Hobbitcore Christmas carries that same spirit, with second breakfasts, handmade decorations of greenery and ribbon, and plenty of singing by the fire.
If you’d like to blend the two, here are a few ideas:
Wassail and Seed Cake: Serve something warm and spiced alongside a simple hobbit tea cake or hand pie. If wassail isn’t your “cup of tea” so to speak, hot cider is a fantastic alternative.
Homemade Gifts: Think of Beth’s hand-sewn slippers or Bilbo’s generous pantry offerings! Preserves, jams, or a knitted scarf are perfect tokens of affection. Some favorite gifts I have received like this were jars of lard and homemade jerky! My girls and I have crafted hand-stamped towels and jars of fermented hot sauce.
Story Evenings: Read aloud A Christmas Carol or a chapter from Letters from Father Christmas by lamplight.
Old-Fashioned Decor: Drape dried oranges and cranberries, hang evergreen garlands, and light candles; both March and hobbit homes would have relied on simple beauty from nature. A few years ago, I found garlands of faux berries and popcorn that we use on our tree every year! Without the risk of fruit flies, ha!
Carols and Fiddle Tunes: Sing together or play soft instrumental music while you bake or wrap gifts, warmth shared through melody. Over the course of this year, I have been thrifting Christmas records that I am THRILLED to use this holiday season!
Acts of Kindness: In both stories, we see a heart of generosity. Share a loaf of bread, write a letter, or visit someone who might be lonely this season.
In my mind, it’s easy to imagine the March sisters crossing the lane to Bag End. Meg would be admiring the cozy kitchen, Jo helping stir the pudding and comparing novels with Bilbo, Beth playing the fiddle by the fire (in lieu of a piano), and Amy might be found arranging sprigs of holly on the table. Two worlds, same heart: a love of home, hope, and handmade joy.
For more ideas, I offer up last year’s Christmas Substack:
As the year wanes and the light fades early, the hobbit heart begins to stir for Yuletide celebrations, songs, and the warmth of community.
There’s something about the Shire in every season… harvest suppers, winter songs, the turning of the year. These moments remind me that holiness often hides in the homely things: a loaf of bread, the scent of pine, the hush before prayer, the sacrifice of loving others through little things.
Whether Thanksgiving, Yuletide, or the quiet days after, I pray we will all learn to see our own homes as little havens of light in the dark.
I’d love to know what a Hobbitcore Thanksgiving or Christmas might look like in your home. Do you have any cozy traditions that bring peace and joy to your family?
Share them in the comments so we can inspire one another toward slow, wholehearted living this holiday season!
A Final Thought
This season, I hope that your home will be as cozy as a hobbit hole for you and yours! I hope for glowing candlelit, welcoming hearts, and the fragrance of something good from the oven.
May your heart be as full as a hobbit’s table, brimming with gratitude and laughter shared with those you love. And may your spirit be as joyful as the shepherds on that holy night, when heaven broke through the dark with songs of peace.
Please know that I have unfortunate experience with the fact that this season can also stir old aches for many of us. Memories of loss, loneliness, or relationships that don’t feel quite whole. Dear reader, if that’s where you find yourself this year, please know you’re not forgotten, and my heart is with you.
May you catch glimmers of peace even in the shadows. May your days hold moments of warmth beyond the fractures, shining rays of a quiet morning, a cup of tea, and the sound of laughter down the hall.
And may the true joy of Christmas —the Light that came into the world— bring hope to your soul and comfort to your home this Advent season. May we all carry that hobbit-hearted joy and generosity into the year ahead.
This was so cozy to read. I’m going to check out the elimination of hurry book!
I love making chai tea and curling up with a good book and a warm blanket by the window during these months
Love this!! You need to check out the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson!