Celebrating Irish Festivals: Calendar of Seasonal Celebrations

by Marshall, Ruth

• ISBN13: 9781903458235
• ISBN10: 1903458234
• Edition: Illus.
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Rudolf Steiner Pr

Summary

Celebrating festivals with children brings a sense of rhythm, belonging and meaning to the seasons. Reaching back to the ancient Celtic festivals of Ireland and to Celtic Christianity, Ruth Marshall shows how marking festivals offers food for the soul. If you are interested in Irish traditions, or need a family or school resource, then here is an entrancing calendar of festivals that children will cherish. This is a rich treasury of stories, beautiful illustrations, poems, traditions, food, activities, games, dances and songs Book jacket.

Author Biography

Ruth Marshall is a folklore collector, singer, mother and poet. She has celebrated Celtic festivals for 30 years Judith Evans, is an artist and puppeteer

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Alexander Mackenzie
Acknowledgements	vi
Foreword	vii
Pearse O'Shiel
Why Celebrate Festivals?	ix
Introduction	xi
A Little Myth and History	1	(8)
The Year's Turning -- The Wheel of the Celtic Year	9	(186)
Autumn to Winter
Samhain	13	(1)
Hallowe'en, 31 October	14	(14)
All Saints' Day, 1 November	28	(1)
All Souls' Day, 2 November	28	(4)
Martinmas, 11 November	32	(2)
Advent	34	(13)
Winter solstice, 20-22 December	47	(5)
Christmas Eve, 24 December	52	(2)
Christmas Day, 25 December	54	(8)
St Stephen's Day, 26 December	62	(6)
New Year's Eve, 31 December	68	(2)
Nollaig Na mBan, 6 January	70	(5)
Winter to Spring
Imbolc	75	(1)
St Brigit's Day, 31 January -- 1 February	76	(13)
Candlemas, 2 February	89	(5)
St Valentine's Day, 14 February	94	(2)
Shrove Tuesday	96	(2)
Lent	98	(6)
St Patrick's Day, 17 March	104	(6)
Mothering Sunday	110	(3)
Palm Sunday	113	(2)
Easter	115	(1)
Good Friday	116	(2)
Easter Sunday	118	(8)
April Fool's Day, 1 April	126	(1)
Summer months
Bealtaine	127	(1)
May Day, 1 May	128	(20)
Whitsun	148	(2)
Summer solstice, 21-23 June	150	(1)
Midsummer Day or St John's Day, 24 June	150	(15)
12 July	165	(4)
Summer to Autumn
Lughnasadh	169	(1)
Fraughan Sunday	170	(14)
Harvest	184	(4)
Michaelmas, 29 September	188	(7)
Curiosities and Cures	195	(2)
Farewell	197	(2)
Appendix 1: A well-stocked crafts box	199	(1)
Appendix 2: Appropriate ages for games and activities	200	(3)
Bibliography and further reading	203	(1)
About the author and illustrator	204