Lithedays

A group of three days inserted into the Shire Calendar between the months of June and July (or, as the Shire-hobbits knew those months, Forelithe and Afterlithe). These three days, marked with merriment and feasting, fell at midsummer, and indeed the middle Litheday was also known as Mid-year's Day. Every four years there was also a fourth Litheday, the Overlithe, that fell immediately after Mid-year's Day and so adjusted the calendar to take account of a leap year.