Ricki Crush Bandicute TarrThe Tolkiens knew how to party!
KanaMaunaComing of age party for a Sub-Lieutenant? Sounds like they were really reaching for an excuse there.
M.S. Bellows, Jr.@KanaMauna @RickiTarr I was curious about this too, so I found the Wikipedia article on "coming of age," which suggests that Sublieutenant Tolkien probably was turning 21.
But right below that, was this, which is amazeballs: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_of_age
You’re right, 21 makes more sense for back then.
As to the ant thing, on the one hand that sounds like something people would make up to boast to outsiders. On the other hand, I was a teenager once…
Ashwin Dixit@KanaMauna @RickiTarr @msbellows
I read a story about 40 years ago about tribes in Africa doing this sort of thing, except instead of ants, it was mosquitoes, and instead of hands, it was the penis. The penis would get super swollen and sensitive and then they'd receive some ritualized sexual favors from the women of the tribe, having proven their manhood. Don't know if it's true, though it does arouse prurient interests. 😆