English edition: XV Mereth Aderthad

Mae Govannen!

Welcome to the electronic page of the XV annual meeting of the Spanish Tolkien Society (Sociedad Tolkien Española), known as Mereth Aderthad, or plainly, EstelCon. This year it is organized by the Smial (local delegation) of Lorien (city of Barcelona) at Cardona, and is, as usual, opened both for members of the STE and for the general public.

What is a Mereth?

In Sindarin –one of the elvish languages invented by J.R.R. Tolkien-, mereth literally means “meeting”; the plural is merith, and in the STE we use it to designate a very common activity of our smials: to gather with other members for one or more days to share and enjoy multiple activities around Tolkien’s work. Usually, a mereth is organised by a particular smial, and lasts a weekend. During these days, we make round-table meetings, attend to conferences, play games, and almost anything that the organizing smial may imagine. Two things that never fail are a story-telling night and a dressed up or “gala” dinner. This last one gets its name from the habit in the STE of making beautiful dresses inspired in the works of Tolkien, and to wear them for dinner. Obviously, this is not compulsory, and many people don’t wear any special clothes.

However, once a year, there is a very special mereth that gathers a lot of members from the STE, and during which the annual General Meeting of the association is usually held. It receives always the same name: Mereth Aderthad, or "Feast of Reuniting". Each year a different smial is in charge of organizing it.

The Mereth Aderthad

Also called EstelCon (meaning “Convention of the Estel”), it is a meeting held once a year, that usually lasts for four days, and in which all the society participates, because although it’s prepared by a particular smial –and the hard work is done by them-, activities are developed by members of the entire STE, or by the committees, or by other smials.

The Mereth Aderthad is the greatest gathering of all members of the Sociedad Tolkien Española (plus any person who wants to join in), in order to spend a few days immersed in a world of fantasy, humor, friendship and culture in multiple forms… doing what we all love to do: reaTolkien, telling stories based in his work, listening at conferences, performing theatre plays representing passages of it, singing and listening to songs narrating great loves and heroic deeds, reading literary works in quenya with sublime voices, participating in diverse workshops (from dressmaking to pipe smoking), or learning hobbit dances and music; even watching to videos created by members themselves. And, over all, listening to real scholars demonstrating that Tolkien is far more than one of many fantasy writers; he is one of the greatest writers in History, unfairly forgotten by some experts, who are unable to perceive his deep thoughts about human being impregnating his works. If there is a single thing we all agree in a Mereth Aderthad, is the need of claiming for Tolkien’s place in History.

Every EstelCon usually has a topic guiding the general plot, and driving the special activities prepared by the organizing smial.

One thing that we must never forget in every mereth are those small presents called "mathoms". In the Lord of the Rings: About the Hobbits, J.R.R. Tolkien defines "mathoms" as: «...items that Hobbits had no particular use for but could not bear to throw away...»

The habit in every mereth is that the organizing smial gives one mathom to every attending person; the more original, the better. But also, the attending smials usually give a mathom to the organizing one, as a way to thank them for the hard work done.

The Theme

It’s our tradition that each annual convention goes around one plot or general concept.

In this case, the smial that is coordinating the setup and execution –Lorien- has decided to drive the Mereth Aderthad towards the latest published "full" work of Tolkien, "The children of Húrin". Additionally, this year will be around local legends and their thematic relationships with Tolkien's work. We invite all the assistants to bring in their homeland's legends, their stories, as well as Turin's epic was a legend and a story at the Elrond's council.

During the four days the Estelcon lasts, we will meet the dramatic heroes of the longest ballad of Beleriand: Túrin, Nienor, Húrin, Glaurung, Morgoth...

Activities

The activity schedule is not closed yet, but we already have confirmed several conferences and workshops. Thursday will be our meeting day, and at Lorien we prepare a very special introduction to the Mereth Aderthad's plot. After that, the night will shine with music from our finest artists and humblest minstrels.

Friday will be the most academic day, with two lines of work. On one side, we will see our conferences, held in spanish (an english translator can be present, if you wish to attend them). On the other side, several workshops to enjoy craftmanship. Of course, this only adds to the chance to visit Cardona and its environment, one of the most well preserved medieval towns in our region, with its massive castle and its unique salt mountain. Horse riding, trekking, and several other acivities are available on demand; and of course, you always may enjoy a good bath at the hotel's covered bout open-aired swimming pool.

Saturday will feature the STE's assembly in the morning, so the morning is free. For those interested in the caslte or the mine, we have organized both trips in the morning, although they are not included in the price. In the afternoon, a LARP (live-action roleplaying game) will recreate the wedding of Húrin and Morwen, while the less-enthusiastic about games may enjoy documentary projections and the literary afternoon, a place to talk and create around tea and pastries. The night will bring the dressed up dinner, and its intemporary night, always full of surprises.

Sunday will open with the closing ceremony, and we will award the contest winners of our different contests. After lunch, the long voyage home will begin...

Useful Info

Where: The XV Mereth Aderthad is going to be held at the "Vilar Rural de Cardona", located in the town of Cardona, Barcelona. A map to know where the place is can be found here. It is a 3 star hotel fashioned as a rural village, with all its services ready to hold such a big event. Its restaurant, included in the prize, features several free buffet dishes which will enjoy anyone with top quality food - we have tasted it! - including several typical spanish dishes such as paella! It includes the chance to bring in your children, since they have their personnel and equipment ready to introduce children into the rural world with several workshops. Further information about the hotel can be found here.

To go to the Estelcon, contact us when doing your inscription. The best way is to fly to Barcelona's airport "El Prat", and from there chances are we will take charge of your transportation.

When: On october the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th.

How: Attending and enjoying the Estelcon 2008 is as easy as to go to the feast and enter the conferences, sign up to the workshops or talk with people about the works of the Professor in general, or the story in which this mereth in particular is based.

It is our objective to promote activities of any kind performed by any member. All the initiatives are welcome; and if they are related with the plot, even better. This is the perfect chance to read again Professor’s books and become impregnated of the true spirit of Faerië. Don’t leave any book out!

How to sign up: Write an e-mail to info[at]estelcon2009[dot]org and we’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Pricing: The whole Mereth: 170€ (triple room) or 185€ (double room) (price per person). Contact us for other options (less days, for example). Or for refund policies.

So, you know: if you want to participate and organize something, but you still don’t know what; if you want to do the best of you for some project, but you don’t know which one will better help the Estelcon; write and tell us what do you want. We’ll be pleased to offer you some help, and give you several ideas for you to develop at your will.