The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year [Paperback]

Nigel Pennick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

• A daybook containing information about rituals and celebrations that have for centuries been associated with the changing seasons of the year.

• Includes charts of equinoxes and solstices, movable holy days, and monthly lunar phases through 2033

• First edition sold more than 30,000 copies

Pagan rites and festivals are at the root of many traditional holidays in the Western world. Embracing a sensitivity we have lost, the Pagan traditions emphasize mystical spirituality, reverence for the feminine principle, and the links between people and the earth. This unique daybook contains a treasury of information about rituals and celebrations that have for centuries been associated with the changing seasons of the year. Included are the observances of the ancient Greek, Roman, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse traditions, as well as Wiccan traditions and the worship of the Goddess.

In The Pagan Book of Days the author provides details on auspicious and inauspicious days, holy days of ancient gods and goddesses, and the eight stations of the year (the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days). He also includes lunar and solar charts indicating dates of major Pagan celebrations from the year 2011 through 2033. Illustrations throughout depict images from the classical and northern European traditions. The Pagan Book of Days is an enlightening way to incorporate these ancient cultural and spiritual practices and awarenesses into your daily life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Tapping into Celtic, Roman, Egyptian, and other cultural traditions, Nigel Pennick explores the individual significance of almost every day of the year. Pennick reveals some of the mechanics, such as moon phases and equinoxes, underlying many important holidays, and he breaks the year into seasons, months, and even hours, offering a peek into the importance of even the smaller divisions of the year. --Brian Patterson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Month by month, Pennick lists and elucidates festivals, traditions, and sacred days from the 'pagan' calendar. Includes ancient Greek, Roman, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Norse, Goddess, Mystery, and to some extent Wicca."
(NAPRA Trade Journal )

"This book is worth reading for the people who try to understand the significance of the festivals in our life time. The books writings are in simple language and easy to follow."
(Shankerprasad S. Bhatt )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books; Revised edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892818670
• ISBN-13: 978-0892818679
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Paganism
  • #57 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > History

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fine job by Mr Pennick...., September 3, 2000

By 

Moonglade (Plant City, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year (Paperback)

How absolutely fascinating. Two reviewers rate this book lower that they would have if the author had been of their religious preference for that reason alone and consider the author's religious preference a 'drawback'. No denial of the source of these "Christian" holidays, just lower ratings. Mr Pennick's brilliant-as-usual scholarship and fact-finding are of no consequence, just that unsurmountable fact that his religious preference isn't their own. Oddly, both reviewers are from California and both misspell Halloween in the same way, making me speculate that they are in fact the same person....

Frankly, if more non-pagans read books of this sort and came to the stunning realization that the vast majority of their holidays were 'borrowed' from pre-Christian European beliefs and rituals, then we pagans would possibly experience less hostility and labeling of 'devil-worshipper' (my hopes however aren't high). Mr Pennick has authored another fine book that will educate readers without resorting to petty attacks upon the religious preferences of others, just good solid scholarship and the presentation of facts in an engaging text and accompanied by delightful illustrations. A fine job!

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great mix for the beginner, July 4, 2004

By 

"makodream_moi" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year (Paperback)

Speaking as a beginner to wicca myself, i often get mixed up with moon days and calender days because often these things are in different books. happily, the pagan book of days solves a big chunk of that problem. it's all here -- everything a beginner and possibly a full time wiccian would need to keep track of the different festivals and sacred days that happen throughout the year. i could only wish the descriptions of each days were a little longer, but as some beginners (like me) have a short attention span and just want the facts, then thats pretty much for the best I'd say.

I'd also love to give a personal kudo's to the author, Nigel, for giving a short but sweet explanation on the moon phases, as well as the tides of day. all and all, a great resource for the novice who wants it all in one place and doesn't want to delve too deeply but wants a good overview of them all. (p.s: it's fluff free. enjoy)

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasury of Information and Knowledge, February 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year (Paperback)

Nigel Pennick has produced a stunning little calendar filled with facts, annecdotes, and information useful to all. Extensively researched, cunningly illustrated, the Pagan Book of Days is bound to delight Pagans, scholars, the curious, and the general reader equally. A slim volume, it provokes thought by merely presenting a few simple facts. The curious will go on, the knowledgeable will smile in recognition, and the others will have gained a bit of lore they previously didn't have. (Did you know the grotto at Lourdes was a pagan shrine before the miracle of the "Blessed Mother's" appearance?) A splendid book at a low cost.