Post by EntwifeLost on Feb 6, 2007 21:02:43 GMT -5
What is a "Smial"?
An easy answer is quoted from the International Tolkien Society.
Smials are the local groups of The Tolkien Society. They run on an entirely voluntary basis by members of the Society. It isn't usually necessary to be a member of the Society to be a member of a smial. Smials often produce their own publications. These are independent of The Tolkien Society's own bulletin and journal, and do not necessarily represent the view of the Society.
There is a List of Smials from the Tolkien Society.
However, another "smial and group" listing is shown at
The Tolkien Library website.. Smials exist in many Countries across the world!!
Closer, are the many “brother and sister” smials across the United States some existing for decades. A most note-worthy and impressive one is Heren Istarion - The North East Tolkien Society. They have developed phenomenal education and academic programs in their 7 years of Smialship! Many Smials have monthly and even weekly events and outings, including conferences, lectures, readings, gaming events, parties, readings and moots of all kinds. Many successful groups and tolkien fans are bound together in groups that exist outside the International Tolkien Society, a stunning example is The Mythopoeic Society.
So what does the word Smial mean anyway?
SMIAL (pronounced "smile") essentially means the underground dwellings of the hobbits, but commonly refers to the large tunnels inhabited by well-to-do hobbits. Bag End was a smial (or Hobbit-hole) in Hobbiton, at the end of Bagshot Row. Map-Floorplan of Bag End
The grounds and home were kept by the Gamgee family, most notably Hamfast ("The Gaffer") and later his son, Samwise. The beautiful hole is a point of contention between Bilbo and his relatives, the Sackville-Bagginses, who very much desire to own it.
Here, Bilbo lived a quiet existence until the wizard Gandalf appeared with thirteen Dwarves at the beginning of The Hobbit. Upon his return, he discovered the contents of the smial being auctioned off, due to his suspected death.
The Texas Tolkien Society is an official Smial of the International Tolkien Society and we accept members from any state, country or continent. You don’t have to be Texan to be a member of Dol Amroth! At Dol Amroth, we are thankful to learn from all the International Smials, and our hope is to develop promising programs and membership benefits! Texas does cover a much larger area and finding a central meeting place will be challenging. We shall unearth our tunnels and with our pony-carts loaded, we will travel to enlighten others in Tolkien fellowship, and become a Texas-sized Smial!
~Entwife Lost - The Steward of Dol Amroth
An easy answer is quoted from the International Tolkien Society.
Smials are the local groups of The Tolkien Society. They run on an entirely voluntary basis by members of the Society. It isn't usually necessary to be a member of the Society to be a member of a smial. Smials often produce their own publications. These are independent of The Tolkien Society's own bulletin and journal, and do not necessarily represent the view of the Society.
There is a List of Smials from the Tolkien Society.
However, another "smial and group" listing is shown at
The Tolkien Library website.. Smials exist in many Countries across the world!!
Closer, are the many “brother and sister” smials across the United States some existing for decades. A most note-worthy and impressive one is Heren Istarion - The North East Tolkien Society. They have developed phenomenal education and academic programs in their 7 years of Smialship! Many Smials have monthly and even weekly events and outings, including conferences, lectures, readings, gaming events, parties, readings and moots of all kinds. Many successful groups and tolkien fans are bound together in groups that exist outside the International Tolkien Society, a stunning example is The Mythopoeic Society.
So what does the word Smial mean anyway?
SMIAL (pronounced "smile") essentially means the underground dwellings of the hobbits, but commonly refers to the large tunnels inhabited by well-to-do hobbits. Bag End was a smial (or Hobbit-hole) in Hobbiton, at the end of Bagshot Row. Map-Floorplan of Bag End
The grounds and home were kept by the Gamgee family, most notably Hamfast ("The Gaffer") and later his son, Samwise. The beautiful hole is a point of contention between Bilbo and his relatives, the Sackville-Bagginses, who very much desire to own it.
Here, Bilbo lived a quiet existence until the wizard Gandalf appeared with thirteen Dwarves at the beginning of The Hobbit. Upon his return, he discovered the contents of the smial being auctioned off, due to his suspected death.
The Texas Tolkien Society is an official Smial of the International Tolkien Society and we accept members from any state, country or continent. You don’t have to be Texan to be a member of Dol Amroth! At Dol Amroth, we are thankful to learn from all the International Smials, and our hope is to develop promising programs and membership benefits! Texas does cover a much larger area and finding a central meeting place will be challenging. We shall unearth our tunnels and with our pony-carts loaded, we will travel to enlighten others in Tolkien fellowship, and become a Texas-sized Smial!
~Entwife Lost - The Steward of Dol Amroth