Students enjoyed a second breakfast provided by Mossey Library staff in its annual celebration of Hobbit Day last week.

For more than 10 years, the library has celebrated Hobbit Day on Sept. 22 with second breakfast. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” series chose the day because it is when the characters Frodo and Bilbo Baggins celebrate their birthdays.

“Second breakfast falls at 10 a.m.,” Brenna Wade, public services librarian said. “For the Hobbit eating day, they basically eat every one to two hours. So they have breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, which falls at 11, and lunch and then all the way through the day.”

Wade started the event with expectations that it would fit the college’s personality well.

“I was like yes,” Wade said. “That’s very Hillsdale. We should also do that. Then it was really popular and a lot of people showed up.”

Wade said the college’s first second breakfast celebration happened on the 75th anniversary of the publication of “The Hobbit,” which fell just one day before Hobbit Day.

“In the first year we had it on the publication day, but that was because it was the publication event,” Wade said. “But as far as it’s happened so far, we’ve just held it on the actual Hobbit Day.”

The food at second breakfast was not wholly accurate to meals Tolkien’s Hobbits would have had.

“Mine is not traditional,” she said, “because I am putting out food for a whole lot of people. So I can’t do a hot breakfast.”

Though the breakfast was mostly non-traditional, consisting of mainly donut holes, coffee, meats, and cheeses, it was well attended.

“We are in the process of counting plates,” Wade said, “but I would say probably between 60 and 80 people showed up.” 

The event was held in the library’s Heritage Room, one of the few times in the year when talking is permitted in the usually quiet room.

“I was only here briefly”, Senior Monica Blaney said. “I showed up late, but it was a lot of fun and it’s nice that they have it in here.”

Sophomore Andrew Winter said that he is a huge fan of the “Lord of the Rings” series. 

“The highlight was walking into the Heritage Room and hearing the soundtrack,” Winter said. “They were playing the ring theme. That was the best part. Also, the donut holes.”

Being a lover of Hobbits and having skipped first breakfast, Winter said he was very glad to have attended the event.

“Hobbits deserve more celebration,” he said. “They’re important.”