Ricki Yasha TarrMay 23
The Tolkiens knew how to party!
Show threadKanaMaunaMay 23

@RickiTarr

Coming of age party for a Sub-Lieutenant? Sounds like they were really reaching for an excuse there.

Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.May 23

@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

Show threadKanaMauna

@RickiTarr @msbellows

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…

May 23 at 8:28pmWeb
Show threadAshwin DixitMay 25

@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. 😆

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Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.May 23

@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

Show threadMadeline BodinMay 23

@msbellows @KanaMauna @RickiTarr

CJR Tolkien was born 21 November 1924, according to Wikipedia, so it seems that was the occasion

Show threadclewMay 23

Look again at the _date_. Their son survived to adulthood during a world war; his parents remembered losing so many of their friends in the last war.

@MadelineBodin @msbellows @KanaMauna @RickiTarr

Show threadDaveMay 25

@clew @MadelineBodin @msbellows @KanaMauna @RickiTarr And their son (if I'm remembering correctly the biography I read) had spent a couple of years in the RAF in Africa. His father had been sending him instalments of book IV of LOTR (the Frodo, Sam and Gollum section) for something to read during downtime.

Not sure if the British also had it, but NZ had a service where letters could be microfilmed, the microfilms sent overseas by airmail then reprinted at normal size as "news from home".

Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.May 25
@Daveosaurus @clew @MadelineBodin @KanaMauna @RickiTarr That's REALLY cool.
Show threadKanaMaunaMay 23

@MadelineBodin @msbellows @RickiTarr

No, you’re right. I’m more accustomed to coming of age for early teens, but 21 is probably right for back then.

Show threadKanaMaunaMay 23

@RickiTarr @msbellows

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…

Show threadAshwin DixitMay 25

@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. 😆