Pagan holidays in May are connected to the arrival of spring and the celebration of fertility and new life. Beltane, also known as May Day, is one of the most significant pagan holidays in May. It marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Beltane celebrations focus on the awakening of the Earth after winter and the abundance of nature. During Beltane, people traditionally gather to light bonfires and dance around them. This symbolizes the banishing of winter and the welcoming of summer.
A LibraryReads Pick!
About the AuthorMartha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including Witch King, The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, the Books of the Raksura series beginning with The Cloud Roads and ending with The Harbors of the Sun , and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer, as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction. From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes a remarkable story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.
This symbolizes the banishing of winter and the welcoming of summer. It is believed that the flames from the bonfires have protective and purifying powers. For fertility rituals, couples may jump over the bonfires or pass through them to ensure a fruitful and prosperous year.
Witch King by Martha Wells
After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers.
I loved the Murderbot books and was excited to dive into Martha Wells’ latest release, Witch King. It’s fantasy rather than sci-fi but I like both genres so my hopes were high.
The first problem was that the book starts with a “dramatis personae” – ie a cast list. It is long. Many of the names are complicated “fantasy names”; some of them are very similar and, there was just no way I was going to remember almost any of them. The cast list describes who they are, their race and/or role and where they might fit into the story. Or, at least, I expect that’s what the intention was. It’s completely useless on audio.
In a print book, one can go back and forth from the story to the front matter to refresh one’s memory about who is who. In an ebook, it’s harder but possible. (I think it would be annoying though.) On audio it’s just not an option.
Consequently, I started the book with only the blurb to help me. There is no explaining – I was just plunged into an entirely different world with many characters, most of whom I could not place. And, apart from about five or six of them, when they came up again, I couldn’t remember exactly who they were. I made it about a third of the way into the book but really at that point I was so lost and I had no real hope of ever being found. It’s not enjoyable to spend hours listening to something where my prevailing thoughts were “who is that?” and “what is happening?”. Most of the time, I could not answer those questions.
Added to that, the narration was unevenly paced with some parts being at a good speed and others being way too fast. It meant I couldn’t slow the entire listen to fix the problem. Mr. Mok had little differentiation between characters of different genders and that made it even harder to work out who was who. After a third of the story I really didn’t know all that much more about the world or the story than I had from the blurb.
Possibly Witch King is a great book. But it’s best read in print I believe. Maybe once a listener is familiar with the story and the cast (ie having read the book already) the listening experience would be entertaining. But for me, it was not.
I’m sorry to say Witch King was a DNF for me.
Tagged DNFAnother pagan holiday in May is Walpurgis Night, which is celebrated on April 30th or May 1st. This holiday originated in Central Europe and is named after Saint Walpurga, a Christian saint. However, it is also associated with pagan traditions and beliefs. People celebrate Walpurgis Night by lighting bonfires and performing rituals to ward off evil spirits and protect livestock and crops. May is also known as a time to honor the goddess Maia in pagan traditions. Maia is the Roman goddess of spring, growth, and fertility. She is often associated with the month of May and worshipped through rituals and offerings. Some people may create altars or shrines dedicated to Maia and leave offerings of flowers, water, or food. Overall, pagan holidays in May celebrate the arrival of spring, fertility, and the renewal of nature. These holidays are rooted in ancient traditions and beliefs that reflect the importance of the changing seasons and the cycles of life..
Reviews for "The Magic and Mystery of May Day: Pagan Traditions Revealed"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I wasn't a fan of "Pagan holidays in May". While I appreciate the author's attempt to shed light on lesser-known traditions, I found the book to be confusing and lacked clear explanations. The information was all over the place, and it was difficult to follow the narrative. I also felt that the author's tone was condescending at times, which made it hard to connect with the material. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mike - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Pagan holidays in May". The writing style was dry and stale, making it hard to stay engaged. Additionally, the author seemed more interested in promoting their own beliefs rather than providing objective information about Pagan holidays. I was hoping for a well-rounded exploration of May celebrations, but instead, I was left feeling like I wasted my time. I would suggest looking for a different book if you're interested in learning about Pagan holidays.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Pagan holidays in May" was a disappointment for me. The content felt shallow and didn't delve deep enough into the significance and origins of the various holidays. I expected more context and historical background, but it felt like the author was merely scratching the surface of each celebration without providing any substantial information. The lack of depth made it difficult for me to connect with the material and fully appreciate the significance of these holidays. Overall, I found this book to be lacking in substance.