The Ancient Celtic Festivals: And How We Celebrate Them Today Paperback - 2008 - 2nd Edition

From the rear cover

HOLIDAYS / AGES 9-12 "An enormously engaging and informative book. The authors have included aspects of science, history, mythology, and literature in their explanation of Celtic festivals. . . . will provide the answers for all the children and adults who ever wondered about the mysterious rituals of some of our most well-known holidays. A valuable resource for homes, schools, and libraries." --Sasha Lauterbach, Librarian, Cambridge Friends School "Clare Walker Leslie and Frank Gerace have put together a wonderful and much needed introduction to the magical year. I warmly recommend it to all in need of a good, accurate, and clearly presented guide." --John Matthews, author (with Caitlin Matthews) of The Winter Solstice "This is a charming and delightful book for adults and children alike. In a simple manner, the authors trace many of our festivals to their Celtic and European roots." --Father Timothy Joyce, Order of Saint Benedict, author of Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, A Vision of Hope People love holiday celebrations but most of us don't know why we wear masks on Halloween or watch for the groundhog on February 2. The Ancient Celtic Festivals shows us that many of our modern traditions started in northern Europe with the festivals of the ancient Celts. The Celts were farming people, so their festivals marked the important events of the agricultural year. Imbolc, in very early spring, celebrated the birth of new lambs; Lughnasa, in late summer, the first harvest of grain; Samhain, in late fall, the end of the growing season and the beginning of winter. If we look at our modern calendar, we'll find Groundhog Day falling where Imbolc did, Halloween where the Celts celebrated Samhain, and lots of other holiday correspondences. That's because descendants of the Celts were among the first Europeans to settle in the New World, bringing their holiday traditions with them. Although we still celebrate remnants of the old festivals, most of us don't have the close relationship to nature that the Celts had. The Ancient Celtic Festivals will help us reconnect with the natural wheel of the year by getting us outdoors to gaze at the stars, notice where the sun comes up, and look for signs of spring. And special hands-on activity pages will invite us to weave a harvest wreath, stage a spring festival, or warm up the cold depths of winter with hot spiced cider to make celebrating the seasonal holidays more fun than ever. CLARE WALKER LESLIE is a nationally known naturalist, wildlife artist, and educator. She is the author of the popular children's book Nature All Year Long, as well as six books for adults on observing nature and nature drawing. She divides her time between Cambridge, Massachusetts and Granville, Vermont. FRANK E. GERACE has studied the Celts in myth and legend for twenty years. He lives in Allston, Massachusetts.