The Reckoning of Durin's Folk (a lunar-based calendar)

[Otaku-sempai]

... Where were you thinking of going with the 13 month names?

Honestly, I was originally just thinking of having the Dwarves adopt the Mannish names taken from the Folk of Rhovanion with the addition of the thirteen month named for the Elven late-fall/early-winter season of quellë/lasselanta (in Quenya) or firith (in Sindarin).

NAMES OF THE MONTHS
English - Quenya - Sindarin - Shire - Bree

January - Narvinyë - Narwain - Afteryule - Frery*
February - Nénimë - Nínui - Solmath - Solmath
March - Súlimë - Gwaeron - Rethe - Rethe
April - Víressë - Gwirith - Astron - Chithing*
May - Lótessë - Lothron - Thrimidge - Thrimidge
June - Nárië - Nórui - Forelithe - Lithe
July - Cermië - Cerveth Afterlithe - Mede
August - Úrimë - Urui - Wedmath - Wedmath
September - Yavannië - Ivanneth - Halimath - Harvestmath
October - Narquelië - Narbeleth - Winterfilth - Wintring
Fealwemath - Quellë - Firith - none- none (only counted as a month by the Dwarves)
November - Hísimë - Hithui - Blotmath - Blooting
December - Ringarë - Girithron - Foreyule - Yulemath*

* Also used in the Eastfarthing.

Tolkien notes in Appendix D:

In the nomenclature of the Hobbits...both of the Shire and of Bree, diverged from the Westron usage, and adhered to old-fashioned local names of their own, which they seem to have picked up in antiquity from the Men of the vales of Anduin...

The Dwarves of Durin's Folk might have also adopted these names for common usage. I suggest that where the Bree-names differ they were influenced by the local tongue of the Men of Eriador and that the Shire-names are the older forms. Perhaps the day that corresponds with the winter solstice is the one named Mahalsdei, and combined with the leap-day (Overdei?) making up Mahalstide.

It's also possible that, in common usage, the Dwarves took the names for the weekdays from the Men of the Anduin vales. Tolkien provides archaic forms for those names: (1) Sterrendei, (2) Sunnendei, (3) Monendei, (4) Trewesdei, (5) Hevenesdei, (6) Meresdei, (7) Highdei.

I've gone back and revised the original calendar. Take a look and post your thoughts and further suggestions.

[Terisonen]

You should take a look at a Muslim calendar. THey have a Lunar calendar and determination of the beginning of Ramadan is a not-so-easy task.

Are the Khuzdul Muslim?

Edit: Hebrew calendar is also a lunar one, and the Easter day is also a difficult task

[Otaku-sempai]

You should take a look at a Muslim calendar. They have a Lunar calendar and determination of the beginning of Ramadan is a not-so-easy task.

Are the Khuzdul Muslim?

Edit: Hebrew calendar is also a lunar one, and the Easter day is also a difficult task

The Dwarves' name for themselves is Khazâd, given to them by Aulë. Their language is Khuzdul. Jewish characteristics and culture as described in Medieval texts influenced Tolkien's depiction of the Dwarves and elements of their language.

Actually, determining the date of the New Year's Day of the Dwarves isn't that difficult. One only has to chart the phases of the Moon and determine when the last new moon of the autumn will occur. In my revised calendar it would be a date from 26 Firith to 28 October. Keeping track of the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon would tell you if it would be a Durin's Day.

[Otaku-sempai]

"Tomorrow begins the last week of autumn," said Thorin one day [not realizing that Bilbo was nearby and listening].

Of course that 'tomorrow' turned out to be Durin's Day. So what date would Durin's Day fall on my constructed Reckoning of Durin's Folk?

Well, this calendar assumes that the beginning of November is the start of winter for the Dwarves. I am not counting the yule-day of Mahalsdei or the leap-day as days of the week, so all months begin on the first day of the week and end on the last. The first day of the previous week would be October 22 (which should be October 19 on our modern Gregorian calendar).

[Terisonen]

You should take a look at a Muslim calendar. They have a Lunar calendar and determination of the beginning of Ramadan is a not-so-easy task.

Are the Khuzdul Muslim?

Edit: Hebrew calendar is also a lunar one, and the Easter day is also a difficult task

The Dwarves' name for themselves is Khazâd, given to them by Aulë. Their language is Khuzdul. Jewish characteristics and culture as described in Medieval texts influenced Tolkien's depiction of the Dwarves and elements of their language.

Actually, determining the date of the New Year's Day of the Dwarves isn't that difficult. One only has to chart the phases of the Moon and determine when the last new moon of the autumn will occur. In my revised calendar it would be a date from 26 Firith to 28 October. Keeping track of the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon would tell you if it would be a Durin's Day.

Of this I was not aware. I have learn something today. Good day!