Book Description

Book Description

“Let’s have a parade” is the phrase that begins a beloved American tradition, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 1924, employees of the R. H. Macy and Company store in Herald Square, many of whom were immigrants and first-generation Americans, chose to give thanks for their good fortune in a manner reminiscent of the festive parades held in their native countries. The excitement and praise from crowds lining the route that first year led Macy’s to issue an immediate proclamation: the parade would become a tradition. Before the parade’s first decade passed, Macy’s welcomed the huge and spectacular helium character balloons that became its goodwill ambassadors. Since then, the parade has become a world-famous treasure. Through rare and historic images, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade offers readers a chance to reminisce, explore, and delight in eighty years of this thoroughly American celebration. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A MIRACLE OF A BOOK ABOUT THE MIRACLE ON34th -
This book is a WOW! The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the Miracle on 34th St and this book is a miracle too.That for the first time the glorious history of the Parade is presented in a fantastic mix of photos, ads, and a very enjoyable and readable text. The authors present their history in a conversational manner that encourages you to read the book from front to back and all over again! The images in black and white and color bring the parade to all, and year round too! Great for anyone planning on seeing the parade in person, or whom have seen it in person or watched on TV. A keepsake and collectible that does the Parade proud!

Enjoy the Macy's Parade all year long with this book!
Being a Macy's Parade fan forever it is always sad when it is over for another year. Now with this book you can enjoy the Macy's Parade throughout the entire year. The book is chock full of glorious vintage ads and totally awesome pictures.The NY Daily News images are stunning and all of the images seem to leap off the pages. The writing is done in a conversational manner that draws you in and the parade is presented decade by decade and year to year with many interesting facts along the way! Then after the feast of glorious pages of text and black and white images the book ends in a splash of color and what color it is, eye candy indeed!

A Parade Of Magnificent Memories! - a lifetime Macy Parade
This wonderful book reflects a magical history of the parade the whole world loves! Everyone's a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, and our earliest childhood memories include family, food and friends and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. While there are many parades held on Thanksgiving Day, the Macy's Parade is the grand-daddy of them all. Spectacular floats, magnificent marching bands and the biggest and best balloons in the world!

This book takes you back to the very first parade, "The Macy's Christmas Parade" as it was known in 1924. It follows the history of the parade and tells the story through newspaper accounts, fascinating memories from parade producers and participants and ads from every decade, including the three year period of World War II when the parade was not held.

The photographs are an amazing collection, many seen here for the very first time- dating back to the very first balloon, Felix The Cat. This is truly the "almanac" of the Macy Parade, and no parade lover should be without a copy! Written by 2 true Macy Parade fans, it is informative and entertaining. It is a "must have" keepsake of the greatest parade of all.

Finally a book that tells the history of the Macy's Parade
Finally a book that documents the long and amazing history of the world famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The authors present decade by decade of wonderful and very interesting facts and details on each parade.The book is worth the price just for the great pictures of all the big Macy'a balloons.A treasure trove of awesome photos, vintage ads and sketches. And the book ends in blaze of color photos that are too good to be true.How can you go wrong with pictures of the first Bullwinkle balloon!

A Glorious Book on the Glorious Macy's Parade!
A glorious book indeed, glorious image after glorious image (the N.Y. Daily News images are especially stunning), many never published before appear on page after page!Each image is eye candy, then the last few pages present stunning color images from the parade, in fact the color quality of the images are breathtaking, like a splash of Technicolor and the best color work I have seen in any book recently!Added to the fun and historic scope of the history presented by the author make this a keepsake and collectible indeed! And the next best thing to actually being at the parade in person! ... Read more

Book Description

Many people long for an alternative to the commercial industry Christmas has become.This illustrated, full-color book, brimming with folklore, stories, recipes, games, activities, decorating ideas, and songs, will help families who are "burned out" on Christmas create celebrations more in keeping with the heartful spirit of the original Winter Solstice festivals. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Little More Effort.....
I enjoyed this book for the most part, having read it several years ago. I was not only disappointed but surprised at the lack of research that resulted in the remark that in the United States, Southerners evidently believed that shooting at a tree with mistletoe would cause the plant to fall to the ground. In the most exact sense that is true: mistletoe grows at the top of tall oak trees, and actually shooting it down is the easiest and safest way to obtain it; not some "whammy" ignorant people use to obtain a desired object. I think a little more work would have resulted in a little less disdain.

Great book!
Very complete with history and lore as well as activites. Two thumbs up on this one. Great pictures too. Information is presented in a very straight-forward way. I love this book - made for a much more meaningful christmas for me this year. The table of contents has:

1) The Solstice Dream (this chapter talks to Solstice celebrations and lore across the world and across the ages - from egypt to china to Rome. Poetry and prose from other sources are included.) All chapters end with celebration activites

2) Child of Wonder (this chapter talks to the birth of different gods across the ages - such as apollo, mabon, jesus)

3) The Green Bough (this chapter talks to the symbolism of the tree, the use of evergreens versus cherry tree etc. Green man is also discussed)

4) Old Sir Christmas (this chapter talks to the jolly old elf as well as the Shaman in the Tree and others across the cultures)

5) The Solstice Animals (this is about the slaughter of animals - 'nough said there - go vegetarian!)

6) The 12 days of Christmas

At the end of the book is a few pages on additional resources/references which is pretty good.

Great book! Most complete I've found and I like how it looks across cultures.

A beautiful and informative book
The Winter Solstice (as with the solstices and equinoxes) hold a special place in our world because anyone can celebrate them. So many cultures and religions have customs, beliefs, rituals that occur on or around the Solstice.

This book highlights some well known and not so well know European Solstice and Yule customs. It also delves quite a bit into Christmas customs that were influenced by eariler Pagan ones. But the information in this book is extended outside the Euro realm and reaches many cultures - really emphasising a common bond between all people.

The book is nice enough to offer as a gift or a coffetable treasure. It has a wonderful layout and lots of beautiful pictures, drawings, and poems. In the back of the book it has a couple of Rituals/ Plays that are suitable for public Ritual or a seasonal play.

This book can be enjoyed by anyone but definitely appeals to Pagans or curious/ liberal Christians.

Great book on Yule
I almost didn't buy this book because it had Christmas in the title and I supposed it would not have much in the way of the pagan holiday. I was very wrong. This is the best book I have ever read on the solstice. It tells of celebrating Yule before Christianity abducted it. "The Winter Solstice" has the look of an arty, coffee table book but it is definitely worth the read. It offers a couple of small rituals and some great phrases for ceremonies. It is more of a scholary history than a magickal book. I cannot wait to read it again next December to get me in the Yule spirit!

An excellent text on the history of winter
One of the better books I have seen when it comes bringing religion and folklore together - from the origin of the Christmas tree to the meaning behind the Twelve Days of Christmas. A must buy to the pagan as well as the Christian. ... Read more

Book Description

An affordable new almanac from the creators of Chase's Calendar of Events

This fun, fact-filled calendar/almanac will fulfill the needs of amateur marketing mavens, freelance writers, and trivia buffs who need to know what happened On This Date. This fascinating volume is packed with entries selected from Chase's Calendar of Events, including more than 2,000 celebrity birthdays, important dates from history, fixed religious and national holidays, and special days, weeks, and months. Arranged day-by-day, from January 1 through December 31, the entries are American in emphasis and include humorous days (No Housework Day, Stay Home Because You're Well Day) and sponsored days and months (National Honey Month, Great American Smokeout) that aren't found in other day-by-day historical almanacs.

Key features include:

• More than 2,000 entries
• Contact information for event sponsors, including Web addresses
• Complete name and subject index
• Lists of movable religious and national holidays

Reviews (1)

Good especially for Modern dates & TV stars, etc.
I bought this book this past January and have been reading it daily. I find it makes a good companion to Cyril Leslie Beecham's book "The Dictionary of Dates" which lists more ancient dates. Instead, "On This Date", lists many more "modern" dates, such as those we are more familiar with, like the TV Premier of "ER", or the TV premier of "All in the Family", etc. Unlike some of the other date books, this one lists many more tv stars and movie stars than others, however, if you are looking to see when the Battle of Britain was, you probably won't find it in this book. It also didn't have Isak Dinesen's birthday (4/17/1885) although it did list VE Day.

Overall, this book is sort of a Hit-or-Miss book. For the Really Big dates that are things EVERYONE has heard of, you're sure to find it in here. But for the more obscure people or dates, you may want to check out another date book. ... Read more

Book Description

Carnaval, Fasnacht, Entroido, Carnival--the annual pre-Lenten festival most people in the United States know as Mardi Gras is celebrated in cities and rural villages throughout Europe and the Americas. With more than 300 dazzling photographs, this book offers an international look at Carnival in New Orleans and Basile, Louisiana; Laza, Spain; rural Bulgaria; Venice, Italy; Basel, Switzerland; Tlaxcala, Mexico; Oruro, Bolivia; Recife and Olinda, Brazil; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Carnival takes similar shapes everywhere European Catholics carried their religion and its festivals. People disguise or adorn themselves in costumes and masks to parade through the streets, eating, drinking, and making music before the Lenten fast begins on Ash Wednesday. But as this book shows, indigenous customs with even deeper roots--and, in many places, customs that accompanied enslaved Africans in their diaspora--became integrated into the festival to give it distinctive local flavors.

In the four rural sites (Laza, southeastern Bulgaria, Basile, and Tlaxcala) many festival rituals are meant to promote the fertility of crops, livestock, and people. In the urban Carnivals of Oruro, Recife and Olinda, Port of Spain, Port-au-Prince, and New Orleans, Carnival groups compete through ingenious masquerades and spectacular performances. Venice’s Carnival--a late-twentieth-century revival--is modeled on elite urban celebrations of the Renaissance, and Basel’s--one of very few Carnivals to survive among European Protestants after the Reformation--involves large, organized troupes who wear masquerades portraying themes of social and political satire. In Haiti, Mardi Gras celebrations are deeply politicized and have even played a role in overturning governments.

The contributors to this book take readers on a colorful journey through Carnival in these eleven far-flung places, outlining the history of Carnival in each area and its present form. The major masquerades are introduced--from Venice’s classic Harlequin and Pierrot to Bulgaria’s "Kouker" and Port of Spain’s "Midnight Robber"--along with the kinds of groups who participate, such as Recife and Olinda’s African "nations" and Tlaxcala’s charro dancers. The sequence of Carnival events in each location is described, from excited preparation to last-gasp revelry, with tastes of festival food and drink and the rhythm of music along the way.

Whatever deeper religious or civic significance Carnival may hold for its participants, it is always a time of play, conviviality, and fantasy--a time when alternatives to the status quo can be imagined and people can feel unleashed from everyday restraints. This book is a joyous celebration of this many-faceted festival and a tribute to those who have kept their Carnival traditions alive. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Edward Chumney's version of the seven festivals
This is a gentile perspective of the Jewish perspective. It is too cumbersome to read to the end. The transliterations are not accurate. It is definitely not something that a Jewish person would be able to get through, whether a believer or not a believer in Messiah. It is better to write from your own personal experiences and culture. When you try to enter into someone else's culture, it is not the same.

I personally want to see the Jewish people come to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and I at the same time want to see the Gentile people come to believe that Yeshua(Jesus) is the Messiah. Each are to remain in the culture and religious background that they came from minus the idolotries and other sins in their lives.

An understanding of the entire Bible is very important. A person does not need to become a Bible scholar to be saved. But to know how to live before and unto the L-rd is very important. the feast of Israel are a part of a Jewish person's lifestyle and a Jewish Believer's lifestyle and a Gentile Believer's lifestyle. Each must know that the central part of each feast is G-d and He will impress upon you how to walk before Him.

onenewman
This is an excellant book. Eddie Chumney writes very methodically which makes it easy to remember and understand. For anyone interested in their Hebraic Roots this one is the best in regard to understanding the Bibical past, present and future. All your questions will be answered as you read this book.
This book also uncovers milleniums of misunderstanding. It is worth the time to read.

Amazon made me give it at least one star
...one of the customer reviewers, is quite correct about this book becoming "cumbersome," particularly to Jewish Christian readers, just from the sample pages I perused. For Christian readers who do not come from a Jewish upbringing, it may not be cumbersome, but there are many explanations that should be included but are not, which, I think, is a loss for my Gentile Bretheren in the L-rd.

I appreciate the author's appropriate use of "-" and hopefully he did so throughout this book. I've been laughed at many times because I WILL NOT write the L-RD's name (the tetragrammaton) at all, always use the "-" where required, will not place my Bible on the floor to read it, and although one time I had to write in Eze 48:22 in the NASB before Moody corrected the typo, and I can't get a straight exchange, we [Jews] do not write in our Bibles and that pained me to do so.

Some examples that are sloppy: inconsistent use of "chag," sometimes just "hag" w/o the dot under the h, which is a transliteration of the Hebrew letter "chet." Sometimes, other things, the technicalities I'll refrain from in this review, are missing.

That's enough for now. I would just like to see consistency and more and better explanations for my friends who were not raised Jewish. We're all ONE in the L-rd, and we both can teach each other.

I think the other customer's review and mine are emphasizing things that the author is inconsistent with so our Gentile saved Bretheren will not be embarrassed should you have the opportunity to share the Gospel with lost Jewish people. I guarantee you that the last thing you want, even by mistake, is to explain Hebrew words based on errors from books such as this to a Jewish person who knows even just the basics of the Hebrew language.

You may be laughed at for something you were misled on, and worst of all, as difficult as it is to reach lost Jews, such as the Apostle Paul's family, mine, many other saved Jews, you may be the only person ever given the opportunity to share Yeshua with them. I don't know everything, but I don't think this is what the L-rd means by suffering for His name's sake?

I could get really picky, but I won't. This book is obviously targeted for saved Gentiles. Even though you might find some useful info if you buy this book, please do not be dogmatic about everything you read or hear if/when you get to share with lost Jewish people. We never know if the person we're sharing with will ever give anybody else another chance?

I'm sure the author meant well, but, I think some of these items are important to discuss for the reasons above.

In general, I think most important is to read a well written book that demonstrates the Jewish roots of Christianity, just like He and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, to know that calling G-D our "Father," "turn the other cheek" and so much more is very much rooted in the TANAKH OR TANACH (the former, I see, is the more correct acronym because the Jewish Bible, which says exactly the same things as the Gentile versions but often uses Hebrew idioms, just like every language contains, is divided into three groups, the last of which are the Holy Writings, which in Hebrew is a word beginning with the letter "k(h)aph," thus the transliteration TANAKH. The latter is based on the letter "chet." That's all right. Both letters have a "gutteral" sound, but the "k(h)aph" or "k(h)aph sofit [final form of the letter]" is more gutteral. My main point, except for this one word I saw in the sample pages, Hebrew words are regularly given in " ( ) " and are lacking.

A very detailed look at festival prophecy!
Edward Chumney's "The Seven Festivals of the Messiah" is a very detailed and thorough look at the Jewish Feasts - the Feasts of the Lord - found in Leviticus 23. He does a great job in explaining the feasts and the festive cycles. He also explains the difference between the religious and civil calendars of the Jews. A chart and several tables accompany his explanations.

Chumeny writes for a Christian audience, but is very sensitive to any Jews who might also read his book. He omits the vowels when referring to G-d and the L-rd out of respect for the Jewish practice of not saying or writing the name of G-d. He also includes the Hebrew terms for Jewish readers. However, he writes with the English term then adds the Hebrew in parenthesis (following the English word). This is commendable, but it becomes cumbersome after about 30 pages.

Chumney focuses in on the prophetic aspects of the feasts. He discusses other aspects, but prophecy seemed to be his passion in the book. His guiding principle is that "God gave the natural for us to understand the spiritual (p. 9)." So, he takes the natural and begins to extrapolate based on typology and numerology. Sometimes his conclusions are clearly founded in Scripture, but sometimes he seems to be stretching beyond what the Bible actually says.

In the end I felt that much of the historical sense of the feasts was lost by his focus on the fulfillment of the feasts. His writing is very detailed on the prophetic aspects, seeking to show how Jesus fulfilled every aspect of each feast (or will fulfill every aspect), even if every minute detail does not require a fulfillment. The focus on the details made this cumbersome reading for me and left me somewhat skeptical of some of the author's conclusions - even though I believe he is right much of the time.

If you're a big fan of Bible prophecy and really like studies that include typology and numerology, you'll undoubtedly love this book. If you're looking for an introduction to the Jewish feasts for Christians and are not as concerned about the prophetic aspects of them, you will be better served by Barney Kasdan's "God's Appointed Times." Whichever you chose, there is much for every Christian to learn about the Jewish Feasts. Enjoy! And, learn to celebrate as God expected the Jews to do.

The Lord's Rehearsals
I got to meet the author while celebrating one of the Messiah's festivals (the Feast of Tabernacles) last fall. He lives what he writes about, and this is a great book. He provides great insight into what the Lord calls *His* festivals (not just "Jewish" festivals). The festivals are the Lord's "miqra" -- usually translated "convocations," but the underlying meaning in Hebrew is that these are the Lord's rehearsals. Isn't that a great picture of the shadow of things to come? It certainly provides a great motivation for learning and studying them. Highly recommended... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Planning a medieval Party?
If you are planning a Medieval Celebration of any kind this is a great book to buy. My Fiancee and I have been looking for medieval books to plan our wedding by and I stumbled across this one its been very helpful and I'm sure it will get alot of use. It has many tradations recipes and lots of fun games a must have.

So-So Information for Event Planning
My fiance and I purchased this book as we are planning a medieval wedding. The title and description of this book implied that we would find lots of valuable information on that topic. Well, we found lots of valuable information for feast planning, or putting on a re-enactment (a la Society for Creative Anachronism), and very little concerning period wedding traditions. The most interesting parts were the recipes/redactions and the instructions for medieval dance steps. There are also several pages that contain sheet music for period songs. If you are looking to put on a reenactment or feast, this is the book for you. If you are looking for anything else, I suggest you look elsewhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Do you breed rats and mice that could preen like poodles in a pet show? Have creative juices yearning to be set loose on a 20-ton block of packed snow? Possess a melodious voice best suited to singing the praises of SPAM? Nope? That's okay, with America Bizarro, you can find out all about people who do!

It's a weird place, America, and even if you have a hobby or interest that no one you know shares, there's probably a group of people meeting somewhere in America to enjoy it together. Not only that, but someone else's obsession or bizarre display of civic pride is being celebrated right near you. Organized state-by-state, and illustrated with some pretty funny pictures, America Bizarro is an hysterical armchair read which doubles as a practical guide in case you want to:

See the Jumping Frog competition immortalized by Mark Twain in Calaveras County, CA
Be a delegate at the Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club Convention
Munch on Rocky Mountain oysters at Montana's Testicle Festival
Get lost in Grandpa John's Amazing Maze in a Nebraska cornfield
Tickle, caress, and seduce the ivories in Las Vegas' Liberace "Play-A-Like" Competition
Join Polar Bear plungers in the Atlantic in February at the Jersey Shore
Win a truck in Texas' famous Hands on a Hardbody contest

You never know. You could be the next International Pack Burro Race champion or just enjoy taking in the annual ArtCar Parade in San Francisco. America is what you make it, so make it Bizarro!


... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not just "Burning Man" but obscure funky happenings...
This takes precendence over "Roadside America"...for ultimate in eccentricity. Includes Texas Aggie Bonfire, (World record on height,'69) as a last minute choice just after the Nov.'99 accident, of which there is a commemorative statement. To add send inquiries to: americabizarro@hotmail.com

This ain't your parent's guide to America!
Mr. Taylor takes us for a walk on the wild side in this guide to the off kilter, out of hand and off the beaten path fests, events and happenings. Wondered if America really was as strange as you suspected? Wonder no more. Organized by state, America Bizarro is... well, Think Tom Robbin's Another Roadside Attraction meets that outrageous show from the 1970s - Real People. This Book is for everyone who just can't stomach one more summer roadtrip to overrated, overdone and overpriced attractions. Hell, the Big Mouse down South doesn't need any more of your hard earned money... so get a copy of America Bizarro and start checking out the freaks, geeks and charming underbelly of the land of the free to be you and me. ... Read more

Book Description

Even now that we're all grown up, we can't help but look back on our childhood holidays and hope to recapture that elusive spirit of joyful anticipation. Celebrating Christmas is so often about nostalgia. With a nod and a wink to the days of Christmas past, It's a Wonderful Christmas presents classic images of the Yuletide icons of mid-20th-century America.

Bubbler lights and glow-in-the-dark icicles. Catalogues crammed with toys. Norad bulletins tracking Rudolph's red nose through the nighttime sky. Along with hundreds of such quintessentially American illustrations, author Susan Waggoner stocking-stuffs her lively text with fascinating bits of information, lore, and lists. Wonder what the all-time most popular Christmas song is? How the tradition of the department store Santa got started? The answers are here. Loaded with images of vintage Christmas cards, wrapping paper, magazine ads, Lionel toy trains, and more, all in full color, this charming book will appeal to anyone who associates Christmas with home movies, "The Chipmunk Song," and Santa relaxing with an ice-cold bottle of Coca-Cola. AUTHOR BIO: SUSAN WAGGONER is the author of several illustrated books, including Vintage Cocktails (STC). A native of Minnesota, she currently lives in New York City. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Summer solstice celebrants will find plenty of inspirational rituals, magic spells, and recipes in Anna Franklin's Midsummer. As in her previous book about the early fall festival of Lammas, Franklin can be whimsical as well as reverent. From the building of a magical bonfire to the staging of elaborate solstice rituals involving priests and priestesses, Franklin offers something for every level of pagan. In the section on "Midsummer Magic and Divination," Franklin gives instructions for placing various herbs and charms beneath the pillow to welcome prophetic dreams. Those who are inspired by the more romantic Shakespearean take on Midsummer's Eve can try some of Franklin's love divination techniques, such as flicking an apple seed toward the ceiling to see if your love is requited. Franklin also gives specific instructions for performing the "Rites of Midsummer." For instance, "The altar should be decorated with golds and yellows--this theme is echoed through candles, clothes and flowers.... Centrally placed should be a sun wheel or sun representation." And for the Martha Stewart-style pagan there are some excellent recipes, including Anise Tea and Comfrey Fritters. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Another fun book!
Lots of great ideas and history on midsummer customs - drawing from ancient times. There's a whole chapter on divination (tarrot, runes etc) - fairy contact too. Crystals and their properties are discussed as is making a wand, and working with herbs to make special oils and teas etc. There are a number of recipes. There's a section on animal totems for midsummer but I've found better books on totems (check out Jamie Sams). Of the differnt Sabbat books, this one seems to have more spells, potions, divination and magic. It a really fun book and I'm glad I bought it - I'll certainly be doing some crafting from it but I'm only giving it 4 stars because I think the whole relationship/connection to mother earth is too light.

Wonderful!
This book is a fully rounded examination of the midsummer festival with history and lore, pagan themes and spiritual inspiration. It contains traditional Wiccan and witchcraft rites, along with Saxon and Druidic celebrations for the festival. I know for a fact that the Wiccan rites are authentic and I have never seen them published before. [I do worry that it may be a case of casting pearls before swine in some instances.] Along with stuff for the more serious Wiccan, the ritual suggestions would help beginners and experienced covens alike. There is a wealth of herb craft here, since midsummer is the traditional time for gathering herbs, which again, may appeal to ex[pereinced and beginner alike. I can't recommend this book too highly- the strongest in the series so far.

An excellent guide to creating a midsummer celebration
Midsummer is one of the Pagan festivals which celebrates a positive seasonal change, and this title covers common midsummer seasonal rituals, from the Rite of the Oak King to Drawing Down the Dawn. Recipes for herbs used in ritual celebrations blend with ritual instructions in this excellent guide to creating a midsummer celebration.

Nice addition to the series
I really think that the information in the book is some of the most helpful in this series so far. There is a great deal of information on herbs and oils, a nice section devoted to tarot, and lore is better than many in this series of books. Overall, these books are a distilled pagan text. In the end, I only recommend these books for pagan families looking for ideas for pagan children. Any serious student of the craft will not find much help here.

Well done -- full of useful recipes and lore
Anna Franklin has done a fine job of giving information on the deities of Midsummer from around the world, surrounding them with lots of myths and lore and topping it all off with a fantastic collection of herbcrafting for the season. This book is a valuable resource for any Pagan -- solitary or coven member -- looking to celebrate the holy day. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Respect For Samhain While Celebrating Halloween Fun
This book combines excellent scholarship with creativity and a joyful sense of fun. It explores the popular holiday of Halloween as well as the more serious and spiritual side of the pagan sabbat Samhain. You don't have to be a pagan to enjoy this book because it has many, many lighthearted and clever ideas that will entertain even if Halloween is purely a fun night of make-believe for you. Fortunately it takes Samhain seriously enough to be satisfactory to pagans who require a bit more substance in this holiday's revels. Interspersed with seasonal artwork the book starts out with a thorough look at Samhain and Halloween history. Customs and traditions such as Jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treating, bonfires, among others are discussed. Superstitions and many Halloween symbols are detailed. The chapter on divination is informative and lots of fun. Colorful kitchen witchery offers up some delicious recipes that are wonderful for parties or just for seasonal family fare. A meaningful and enjoyable section on Halloween Magick shares ideas for spells, blessings, charms, and ritual. An important aspect of Samhain, that of honoring the dead, is discussed with helpful ideas for adding meaning and respectful reflection. Many delightful poems from various sources grace the opening chapter pages and they in turn can be used when crafting one's own sabbat rituals.
This book does not tippy-toe around and pretend to be a book that won't offend anyone. It is a book by a Wiccan for other Wiccans but as always, the door is open, step through and enjoy as you will.

Silver reaches people who are not pagans!
The halloween book has made it's way respectively into our public library... even a christian librarian reccomended the book. It's a wonderful tool to show people that witches are not evil hags... and it tells perfectly well how the holiday was twisted into haloween. I reccomend this one highly. For those who would call Silver Fluff... yes she writes on a level that is a little fluffy... but it gets people to open their minds about our faith... and it gets people to think about our customs and traditions in a positive light. Silver should be commended for all that she has done and I hope that the Goddess will keep inspiring her. As for the occult bookstore owner. Would you reccomend the farrar's to a christian parent concerned about what their children are getting into? I wouldn't. This is a perfect book to show them... it is written on a level that is comprehendable... and it also gives good recipes and family fun. -- Blessed Be!

Great look at the feastival!
I thought this was a great book - especially for someone just learning about this like me. The writing is easy to get into (in some cases a bit too cutsy I'm afraid but I looked past that). I enjoyed the section on the history of halloween across cultures although in some ways it seemed like too much of a high level synopsis but it was an ok introduction. The section on halloween symbols was excellent since we see all these things typically at halloween (black cats, witch hats etc). There are some fun divinations which include runes. And there are of course blessings and recipes etc. I think this would be a great family book - to give kids (all of us really) a bit more meaning to the day rather than just getting a stash of candy from the neighbors. Definitely a great introduction and fun stuff to do. I'm giving it 4 stars rather than 5 since I was expecting a bit more substance but its fun nonetheless.

Just Good Fun
When I purchased this book, I didn't expect it to be a scholarly work. I've run into too many "fluffy" books by Llewellyn (publisher), and while I've never read any of Silver Ravenwolf's work, those that I respect have considered her work to be superficial as well. So my expectations were that this would be a fun and fluffy book...and it is!

This book's format follows the same as "Yule", another "Sabbat Series" book that I've purchased. The first three chapters cover history, customs, symbols and trivia. As with "Yule", the focus is more on modern Halloween rather than Samhain. At least this book was given an honest title. Again, expectations play a major part in opinions.

The rest of the book is all about fun, in my opinion. The chapter on Halloween Divinations reminded me a lot of childhood days with a Ouija board...no serious divination going on here, just party fun. The chapter on Halloween Magick was pretty light and fluffy as well but I found it fun to use with my kids. The last chapter on honoring the dead can't exactly be called "fun" but it was similar in nature to the others.

My favorite part of the book was the chapter on recipes. It's totally true that there are multiple recipes on apples, pumpkins and such (as one reviewer noted). These are all the mainstream favorites for the season...candy apples, pumpkin pie, caramel corn, apple cider, etc. Nothing new here but I still enjoyed having it all in one place since we throw a kids Halloween party every year.

For more serious recipes for *Samhain*, I recommend "Witch in the Kitchen: Magical Cooking for All Seasons" by Cait Johnson. Johnson provides earthy, warm recipes for Samhain and other times of the year.

So, all in all, a fun book for our family for *Halloween*. For a more serious approach of *Samhain*, we look to other texts.

Fun and Useful
I understand why a lot of readers were disappointed with this book...it's not what I'd call a serious study of Samhain.

However, I already have texts that deal with the serious side of the wheel of the year, and I purchased this to use with my family. This is my second year pulling this book off my shelf, and I still found lots of great ideas to use with my kids.

Looking for Samhain fun, crafts, recipes with a pagan slant? Then this will be a 5-star book for you. Anyone looking for a scholarly approach should look elsewhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Holiday celebrations in the United States are a major force driving the nation's approximately $3 trillion retail economy. The commercial culture of holidays extends from the traditional—decorations, costumes, and cards—to the immaterial and ephemeral—phone calls, airline tickets, and department store bills. This colorfully illustrated volume consists of more than thirty-five clever and often satirical essays arranged according to calendar year. ... Read more

Book Description

Halloween is quickly becoming the most popular holiday in America. Next to Christmas, more money is spent on Halloween decorations and novelties than on any other holiday. This wonderful book has been credited with inspiring the Halloween collecting craze, giving its devotees a chance to celebrate the holiday all year round! In addition to color photography and a brand new price guide, there is also a lot of fascinating insight into Halloween. Most people are familiar with the symbols--Ghosts, Jack O'lanterns, Witches, Bats, Skeletons and Black Cats--but few know about Halloween's past. Why does it exist? What is the origin of trick-or-treating? Why does it fall on October 31st? Through these pages you will experience Halloween celebrations of the past, and take a look at Halloween today. For collectors, this is a treasure trove of memorabilia, the largest ever published. It is illustrated in beautiful color and includes newly updated prices for reference. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

In the Sumptuous Time of Autumn
Stuart L. Schneider's dynamic Halloween In America: A Collector's Guide With Prices spectacularly captures the spirit of the classic years of the American Halloween tradition: the period from the turn of the century through the end of the nineteen-fifties. Though the book includes more recent material, Schneider wisely focuses on what he recognizes to be the holiday's glory days in this country, when its spirit hadn't moved too far from its agricultural roots and American culture was predominantly positive, forward-looking, and uncynical--and its Halloween decorations charming and vividly imaginative.

The book opens with three short, loosely-composed essays, "A Brief History Of Halloween," "The Colors And Images Of Halloween," and "Halloween In America." Schneider, who provides no source material, is often broadly correct but specifically wrong. He suggests, for instance, that the Druids may have built Stonehenge when it has been long established that they did not, and that 'Dryad' is another word for 'Druid.' The author also writes a paragraph about witches and "witch conventions" during the Celtic reign of the British Isles as if this were an established historical fact, embellishing his account with images of witches stirring cauldrons, speaking in tongues, dancing around bon fires, and sacrificing animals; if Schneider knows this to be historically factual, then he has access to information the rest of the world doesn't. He also discusses 'Samhain' as a god of the Celtic people who "controlled the dead or non-growing season," when whether or not 'Samhain' was a Celtic deity or even an entity, rather than a season or holiday, is something currently hotly debated among historians, scholars, and Wiccans.

Schneider is to be commended for his honesty in addressing some of the more unpleasant aspects of the holiday and its associations head-on, as well as for the wonderful historical scope he provides in placing Halloween origins in a wide, multi-cultural context. Readers will find a rich phantasmagoria of topics discussed in the essays, including the custom of sin eating, All Saints' and All Souls' Days, the belief in the 'veil between worlds' and the return of the dead to their families one the night of the harvest feast, the story of 'Jack of the Lantern,' Snap-Apple and Crack-Nut Nights, apple bobbing, fortune-telling, the Scottish influence on American Halloween traditions, Cabbage and Mischief Nights, the various theories surrounding the origin of trick-or-treating, the meaning of the literal 'scapegoat' and its influence of the appearance of the Christian Devil, the Mexican Day of the Dead, and even mention of the elves, gnomes, boogies, and goblins with which agrarian societies peopled the forests and fields.

The gorgeous main portion of the book is dedicated to collectible items and includes sections on Postcards, Decorations, Lanterns, Costumes, Hats and Masks, Noisemakers, Invitations, Games and Toys, Trick Or Treat Bags, and Vegetable People, Figurines and Candy Containers.

Halloween In America is by far the best of the books on Halloween collectibles available, and also the best of the Schiffer books on the subject. Many readers will remember these items from their childhood homes, classroom bulletin boards, Five & Dime store shelves and windows, and neighborhood parties. Readers will also be astonished at how the painters, artisans, and creators of these crepe paper, cardboard, composition, glass, and celluloid items were able to envision and capture what we remember and still think of as the very essence of holiday, and in a wide variety of forms: lonely, barren, orange-skied landscapes with setting suns ablaze or yellow rising moons, black cats and owls lurking in pumpkin patches with an anthropomorphic moon overhead, witches flying on broomsticks in formation over dark, isolated houses, skeletons parading in graveyards, etc.

Folklorists, sociologists, academics, and artists may have special appreciation for the visionary and sometimes surreal paintings, illustrations, and three-dimensional designs revealed here. One 1908 German postcard portrays a witch, a black cat and a vegetable spirit riding in a car made of a partially hollowed-out watermelon with squash-slice tires; another portrays a red-caped witch riding a immense cob of husked corn like a phallus-conquering Amazon through the stratosphere, with an astonished moon and planet Jupiter looking on; and a third, from 1911, shows children happily bobbing for apples in their warm, cozy home, while a tall, red-skirted, stone-faced witch, accompanied by an owl and a black cat, looks in at the window like the ultimate outsider and a disenfranchised, but still proud and powerful, loner. An entire page is devoted to 1910 postcards of anthropomorphic vegetables riding cars, dancing with or chasing fairies, and joyfully imitating human family practices. Others display Rockwell-like scenes of boys and girls carving pumpkins or trick-or-treating, or elderly women in dimly-lit Victorian mansions being frightened by children's pranks and high jinks.

Throughout the book, visionary landscapes and distant horizons beckon; curly-toed elves spring from hollow trees and slide gleefully down rooftops; lone witches warm their hands at their cauldrons under brilliant, star-filled skies; beautiful young ladies sleep fitfully on ruffled pillows while fairies circle their heads; peaked-hat shadows stretch in threateningly at midnight doorways; black cats screech to their own banjo, accordion, violin, and horn playing; and scarecrows extend their arms heavenwards to frighten off their circling opponents.

Readers will run for their magnifying and/or reading glasses so that none of the often minute detail will escape their gaze and inspection. Halloween In America is a huge treat, will make collectors and seekers out of most, and hopefully inspire generations to come to celebrate and pass on the traditions recorded here. Highly recommended to holiday lovers, educators, folklorists, Scout leaders, and all lovers of Americana.

For the Halloween lover
This is much more than a book for collectors of Halloween.This is the best book on the subject. I've read all the others and this is the bible of Halloween. If you have only one book on Halloween, this has to be the one. It brings back childhood. This book is really a look at what Halloween means. Ghosts and goblins, fall colors, adventure and childhood fears. I've read mine over and over and over again. ... Read more

Book Description

"The strengths of the text include the explanation of the different types of designs that are appropriate for ANOVA techniques.Description of the summary tables is well done, and the authors provide a good explanation of the differences between "within subjects" and "between subjects" designs and how these differences translate into more powerful designs when using repeated measures." Jon L. Proctor, Criminal Justice, Westfield State College"The book does a great job of covering the necessary information and leaving the student with an understanding of not only what they are doing but what it all means.I would use it in my classes and I would recommend it to colleagues as a professional book if they are not well-versed in ANOVA."Catherine H. Renner, Nursing, Westchester UniversityHaving trouble finding a book that shows you not only how to analyze data but also how to collect the data appropriately and fully interpret the analysis, too?Here's a new book that does all this in a particularly readable fashion.Turner and Thayer's text: · Shows how to design an experiment in the best possible way to investigate thetopic of interest · Explains which associated analysis will best answer your research question · Demonstrates how to conduct the analysis and then fully interpret the resultsin the context of your research question Organized so that the reader moves from the simplest type of design to more complex ones, the authors introduce five different kinds of ANOVA techniques and explain which design/analysis is appropriate to answer specific questions.They show how to perform each analysis using only a calculator to provide the reader with a better "feel" for the analyses than simply seeing the mathematical answers on a computer print-out.The book concludes with tips for tests on ANOVA, and descriptions of how to use the knowledge gained from the text to determine the credibility of claims made and "statistics" presented in various types of reports.Pedagogical Aids enhancing utilization of the book include: · Key Concept Boxes:Highlight and summarize important concepts · Summary Sections:Provide readers with a recap of the material covered in each chapter · Exercises:Give readers the opportunity to put into practice the concepts they've just learned ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Halloween: Romantic Art and Customs Of Yesteryear Postcard B
Customs?...what customs? This is just a collection of tear-out postcard reprints with no comments, far less writing, to go along with them. On top of that, none of the "notable" ones are shown (Schmucker, Clapsaddle, etc.). Another "why did I buy this?" item to put on the shelf.

Great art work! Very classy!
I love vinatage/antique Halloween ANY THING! These cards are excellent. You get 15 wonderful post cards! I plan to frame some for decoration. I won't even use these to mail they're so pretty and elegant! Great, ...price for a wonderful item. Recommend highly!

Great vintage artwork for Halloween-ists!
A small collection of Halloween related postcards. It could have used a few more in it, but its ok for the price.

Unusual selection, good quality
I use these books for crafts. This book contains a really great unusual selection, unlike the Halloween postcards I've seen in other books. Recommend if you are looking for something different. They would also be fun to actually mail, but who wants to give them up? ... Read more

Reviews (18)

I know less about Beltane now that I have read this book.
There is very little in this book worth recommending. I am reading the Lewellyn Sabbat series in sequence and found that much of what Grimmassi has written about spring was covered in "Ostara". There is very, very little historical information about the actual sabbat. He also spends far too much time commenting on the Roman origins of many Celtic/English celebrations (lest we not forget that the Romans were uninvited guests in England). He only passingly mentions that the Druids used this holiday to conduct human sacrifices, which would have been interesting to read. Grimassi makes no attempt to beef up the historical significance of Beltane.

What the book is huge on is fairy lore and flower lore. There are many pages dedicated to fairies (with 2 humpback stories that are practically the same) as well as pages of correspondence tables on flowers. The ritual information is fair and the spells are perhaps the best part of the book - outside of the art.

I would only recommend this book for people who are interested in fairies or flower lore. I don't feel enlightened at all about Beltane and I am frankly very disappointed as I wanted to read this book the most. It is the weakest of the series.

A Nice Work
With this book Grimassi has joined with other Llewellyn authors for a Llewellyn project. Llewellyn is producing a series on the eight sabbats of modern Wicca, each written by one of Llewellyn's top authors.

The Beltane book is a change of pace for Grimassi. It is written for a general audience and is presented in a lighter tone. It is a fun book with recipes, spells, and rituals that relate to the spring season. Also included is an abundance of folklore on flowers, fairies, and May Day characters such as Jack-in-the-Green. the Queen and King of May, the Hobby Horse, and the Mummers, among others. The book also contains instructions on making a May Pole centerpiece for a banquet table, along with other interesting craft projects related to celebrating May Day. As with all of Grimassi's writings this book is well researched and contains reliable information. Grimassi once again shines as a folklorist in this work.

Beltane contains many illustrations and images presented in woodcut-like etchings. This gives the book an older feel like many of the books published at the close of the 1800s. Beltane is a wonderful addition to any library.

about the same as the rest of this lewellyn series
This series on sabbats are written in a way that seems that a child or a adult can pick it up. There is little personnal inclusion and overall the whole series makes out to be a sensationalized pagan history with out to much detail except a little background on the things that are commonly associated with the holidays. Not that I am complaining because the light reading and simple ideas that come with the books are just that and I didn't expect much more. I stress that these books are often very little expansion to what you can likely find in a book containing all of the sabbats.
The reason I gave this book a three is that a third of the book is about fairy lore. Though Grimassi does a fairly good job giving backgrounds on actual history, and in this book he goes into some quite length on the Maypole and Beltane fires; But he impresses me very little on discussing catagorical topics (such as fairy lore) as he only skims through the topic without laying much foundation and including little other then a few sensational details are often very common or worthless.
This book fits nicely among all the other childishly large books by lewellyn... I suppose it makes it easier to do the crafts... which in this book doesn't include much... Because I can't imagine someone needing help making a cone with taped on handles with a two page example to make a beltane basket.
The pictures in the whole series are black and white with out with very little detail. Remniscent of a childs coloring book, except in such a way that it would be difficult to use as a coloring book.
Since I do not have the book in front of me I wish I could give you more detail.
Overall, this book works well for its intent. As it offers a good place to start with the Wiccan/Pagan slant on the holidays. The bad thing is that the suggested crafts and practices and information are often overly simple, and there is much wasted space (as in this book with the section on fairy lore that doesn't really fit well with the book), and often the reading seems to be as if the auther cut and pasted details as he (in this case) found them rather then being an expert on the subject.
ANOTHER good thing is that the books in this series always seems to be available used... so for half of the retail price plus shipping... well it isn't 'that bad'
There is another series by a differant publisher that seems to be of the same nature that might worth comparing, so far I am only own this books from this series.

Great for a new comer
I'm not new to loving nature and the earth but am new to paganism and the celebrations that are associated. For me this book is just what I was looking for - it has history, lore, recipes and activities. There's a great section on Greenman and the other spirits of May. And a super chapter called "Fairy Lore" that is a terrific introduction to the world of fairies. It stars with a poem by Lewis Carroll that's terrific! I love the section on flower lore as well - love those dandelions! At the end there are some spells, rituals, with good ideas for creating an alter and doing some blessings. The arts and crafts section is good. My only complaint throughout the book is the drawings - I wish they were more polished/sophisticated. Neat reference overall.

Weakest of the series
I found this book disappointingly short. Even for a series of general-audience holiday books (as opposed to historical research), this one only skims the surface. I wish it had more rituals, the way MIDSUMMER did. I wish it had more crafts, the way YULE did. I wish it had more spells, the way HALLOWEEN did. The artwork, while nice, seemed to me to be an excuse to fill pages to make it longer.

A fun book, but the weakest of the series. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Overflowing with great ideas!
Brimming with stories, poems, songs, and things to make and cook, this book offers itself as a friendly guide to the seasonal round of festivals. Arranged by season, each chapter includes a calendar of holidays to celebrate and, believe me, there are enough to keep you partying all year long! Some of my favorites are the more obscure ones that have fallen out of favor in our modern world, such as Shrove Tuesday celebrated prior to Lent, Whitsunday, and St. Nicholas Day. This book has so many ideas, you can't possibly do them in one year and that's why it's such a value. As I have, you will return to it again and again.

From the back cover:
Brimming with stories, poems, and activities, things to make and songs, "All Year Round" offers a friendly guide to the seasonal round of festivals. Helpful drawings and diagrams illustrate this practical book. It contains a wealth of experience that can help families find their own way around the year. Parents are encouraged to develop their traditions and family ways using this as a springboard. As the authors say, "The words are ours, the festivals are yours." "All Year Round" arose from the families of the authors, who also have run festivals workshops for years at "Lifeways" conferences. Whilst many parents they worked with still had living, festive, seasonal and family traditions, an increasing number of people lacked these and asked, "Why bother with festivals?" The authors believe that observing a round of festivals is an enjoyable way of bringing rhythm into children's lives, a way of providing meaningful landmarks to look forward to. Experiencing the unfolding year through stories, poems, and making seasonal tables encourages a love of nature. Each festival has a character of its own, bringing a special gift to family life. Celebrating together is important for families in all kinds of ways. This book offers suggestions about how to get going and helps all those who wish to deepen their understanding of festivals. Marije Rowling is a painter and art teacher, and also illustrated "The Children's Year". This was co-authored by Christine Fynes-Clinton who teaches music and crafts. Ann Druitt trained as an artist and teaches adult education. Her twelve stories round off the book.

Lots of great ideas!
The authors discuss various ways celebrating festivals throughout the year. What I found interesting was that this book was written from a British/European perspective so, it was easy for me to get new ideas for celebrating the holidays. There are songs and stories and patterns you can use to make the crafts in the book. I wish that they had color pictures though. The authors commented on this in the book saying it had something to do with a budget. The pictures were easy to interpret, I would just have liked to see them in color. The authors' ideas about a seasonal table were interesting and I plan on using this book as a starter for planning holidays and a seasonal table with my family. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the 2003 GOLD Benjamin Franklin Award from Publisher's Marketing Association, MASKING AND MADNESS: MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS is the only book devoted to the costumes of Carnival, a luminous portrait of the celebration that defines America’s most profanely spiritual city, by New Orleans’ preeminent photographer. More than 170 photographs capture the stunning spectrum of Mardi Gras, New Orleans style. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Catch a glorious eyeful of Mardi Gras with the McCaffetys
Get a front row seat at Mardi Gras with Kerri McCaffety's MASKING AND MADNESS. This vivid collection of photographs is centered around portraits taken during Mardi Gras 2001, peppered with mixed shots from other years visits. The beauty of Mardi Gras is that it is all about showing off and being seen, a perfect natural subject for photography.

The calm muted portrait background of McCaffety's photo booth provides a blessed quiet space where all manner of characters can shine in all their secret-persona-glory-revealed! Makeup, masks, sequins, glitter, tulle, stripes, spots, spangles, and beads, beads, and more beads! From whimsical to "what the heck?", McCaffety catches it for the just needed moment of capture so it can be shared here.

If you'd rather skip the crowds, pull up a chair and relax with the masking and the madness in this book. ... Read more

Book Description

People from all over the United States come to Nantucket Island to celebrate Christmas in the charming Early American setting. Every year, during the week after Thanksgiving, a select number of houses--most more than 200 years old--are chosen to be on a house-tour for visiting tourists and islanders.

Leslie Linsley, renowned style and craft expert, and author of the recently published Leslie Linsleys Decoupage, is also a resident of Nantucket. In A NANTUCKET CHRISTMAS she offers ideas for Christmas trees, door decorations, mantels, and much more, all inspired by the homes of Nantucket. Also included are projects such as ornaments and stockings as well as festive recipes and inspirations for table settings and entertaining. ... Read more