Happy Birthday, Dear Professor

Today — January 3, 2003 — is a great literary celebration. From the website:

the eleventy-first (111th) anniversary of the birth of Professor Tolkien. This event, Bilbo’s age at the start of The Fellowship of the Ring, falls in The Tolkien Society’s 33rd anniversary year, our coming of age; thus the society is Frodo to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Bilbo at the Long-Expected Party (FotR chapter 1).

On January 3rd Tolkien fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast the birthday of this much loved author at 21:00 ("9 pm") local time.

The toast is "The Professor".

For those unfamiliar with British toast-drinking ceremonies:

To make the Birthday Toast, you stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words 'The Professor' before taking a sip (or swig, if that's more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink.