Rainbow Magic Ebooks are a popular series of children's books written by Daisy Meadows. The series follows the adventures of two girls, Rachel Walker and Kirsty Tate, as they help the fairies regain their magical powers. Each book in the series focuses on a different fairy and their respective magical object. The Rainbow Magic Ebooks are beloved by children around the world for their enchanting stories and colorful illustrations. The books introduce young readers to a wide range of fairies, including weather fairies, party fairies, and animal fairies, among others. Each fairy has their own unique powers and characteristics, making them relatable and interesting to young readers.
The traditional, pre-Christian realm of the dead was referred to as the Otherworld. The Otherworld was not somewhere far away but, rather, overlapping with the world of the living. The Irish beliefs about the Otherworld were detailed and complex. It is full of magic, of witchcraft, of speaking with the dead as well as seeing into the future. The dead were traditionally believed to continue to see the living, although the living could only occasionally see them. The most prominent occasion would be on Samhain itself, when lines between the Otherworld of the dead and the realm of the living were weakened.
As befits a volume in this series edited by Jonathan Barry, Willem de Blécourt and Owen Davies which aims to illuminate lesser known or little studies aspects of the history of witchcraft and magic and to explore their relevance and influence from the medieval to the modern period, the interpretative framework for this study of witchcraft and magic in Ireland is the British Isles in particular, with Sneddon constantly comparing beliefs and practices in Ireland with those in England, Scotland and Wales. Neolithic Ireland had no towns or cities, but the people did craft huge architectural monuments, which acted as seasonal gathering spots and housed the remains of the societies elites.
Each fairy has their own unique powers and characteristics, making them relatable and interesting to young readers. The ebooks offer a digital version of the physical books, allowing children to read the stories on tablets, e-readers, or smartphones. The digital format makes it easy for kids to access the books anytime, anywhere, without having to carry a physical copy.
Op-Ed: Halloween’s Celtic roots are a lot spookier than witches and candy bars
A parade goes through Glastonbury, England, to celebrate Samhain. This ancient Celtic festival of the dead was adopted by Christians and became Halloween. Many of its traditions were carried by Irish immigrants to America in the 19th century, such as the wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits.
(Matt Cardy / Getty Images) By Tok Thompson Oct. 23, 2022 3:10 AM PT Share Close extra sharing optionsAs Halloween approaches, people get ready to celebrate the spooky, the scary and the haunted. Ghosts, zombies, skeletons and witches show up in yards, windows and stores. Festivities revolve around the realm of the dead, and some believe the dead might actually mingle with the living on the night of Halloween.
Scholars have often noted that these modern-day celebrations of Halloween have origins in Samhain, a festival celebrated by ancient Celtic cultures. In contemporary Irish Gaelic, Halloween is still known as Oíche Shamhna, or Eve of Samhain.
In 9th century Irish literature, Samhain, halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, is mentioned many times as an integral part of the Celtic culture. It was one of four seasonal turning points on the Celtic calendar, and perhaps the most important one. It signaled the end of the light half of the year, associated with life, and the beginning of the dark half, associated with the dead.
AdvertisementArchaeological records suggest that commemorations of Samhain can be traced back to the Neolithic period, some from 6,000 years ago. Neolithic Ireland had no towns or cities, but the people did craft huge architectural monuments, which acted as seasonal gathering spots and housed the remains of the societies’ elites.
These megalithic (“big stone” in Greek) sites would at times host huge numbers of people, gathered together for brief periods around specific calendar dates. Archaeological records reveal evidence of massive feasts yet little to no evidence of domestic use. If people did live year-round at these sites, they would have been a select few.
Data from animal bones can reveal approximate time periods of the feasts, and additional data come from the monuments themselves. The monuments are not only situated in key places in the landscape but are also celestially aligned to allow the sun or moon to shine directly into the center of the monument on a particular day.
These sites connect the landscape to the cosmos, creating a lived calendar, scripted in stone. The UNESCO World Heritage monument of Newgrange, for example, is built so that a shaft of sunlight illuminates the innermost chamber precisely on the winter solstice.
Less than 30 miles away lies the hill of Tara, another massive megalithic site. The Mound of the Hostages, the oldest extant megalithic structure at Tara, is aligned to Samhain. Tara is known as the traditional spiritual and political capital of Ireland, and here too archaeologists have found evidence of mass seasonal gatherings of people, with the remains of feasts and great bonfires.
According to early Irish literature, as well as traditional folklore collected in the 19th century, Samhain was a time for people to come together, under a command of peace, to feast, tell stories, make social and political claims, engage in important sacred rituals and, perhaps most important, commune with the dead.
AdvertisementThe traditional, pre-Christian realm of the dead was referred to as the Otherworld. The Otherworld was not somewhere far away but, rather, overlapping with the world of the living. The Irish beliefs about the Otherworld were detailed and complex. It is full of magic, of witchcraft, of speaking with the dead as well as seeing into the future. The dead were traditionally believed to continue to see the living, although the living could only occasionally see them. The most prominent occasion would be on Samhain itself, when lines between the Otherworld of the dead and the realm of the living were weakened.
There were not only particular days that one might encounter the dead but at particular places as well: the megalithic sites. These sites are known in Irish Gaelic as sí sites, the word sí meaning the spirits of the mounds. This word is often translated into English as “fairies,” which loses a great deal of meaning. “Fairies” in Ireland are spirits deeply connected with the realm of the dead, the mounds and, perhaps most especially, Samhain.
The connection can be witnessed in the figure of the banshee — or bean sí, in Irish — an important mythological figure in Irish folklore, believed to be heard wailing with grief directly before the death of a family member. With “bean” meaning simply “woman,” the banshee is thus a female spirit of the mounds and a ruler of the realm of the dead.
The sí spirits are not only spirits of the dead but are a particular aristocracy, who host the dead with feasting, merriment and eternal youth, often at the megalithic sites. In Irish lore, they are powerful and dangerous, able to give great gifts or exact great damage. They once ruled Ireland, according to folklore, and now they rule the world of the dead.
The Otherworld is always there, but it is on the beginning of the dark half of the year, the evening of Samhain — now Halloween — when the dead are at their most powerful and the lines between this world and the next are erased.
As the light of summer fades and the season of darkness begins, the ancient holiday of Halloween arrives to celebrate the dead mingling with the world of the living, as it has for thousands of years.
Tok Thompson is an anthropology professor at USC Dornsife and author of “Posthuman Folklore.” This article was produced in partnership with The Conversation.
As Halloween approaches, people get ready to celebrate the spooky, the scary and the haunted. Ghosts, zombies, skeletons and witches show up in yards, windows and stores. Festivities revolve around the realm of the dead, and some believe the dead might actually mingle with the living on the night of Halloween.
One of the key advantages of Rainbow Magic Ebooks is their ability to enhance reading comprehension. The ebooks include interactive features such as sound effects, animation, and clickable elements. These interactive elements engage children and help them better understand the story, characters, and plot. Additionally, the ebooks often include games, puzzles, and quizzes that further promote reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. The Rainbow Magic Ebooks have been praised for their positive themes and messages. The books often explore topics such as friendship, teamwork, and perseverance. They teach children important values and life lessons in an engaging and relatable way. In conclusion, Rainbow Magic Ebooks are a captivating and educational series that sparks the imagination and encourages a love for reading in young children. The interactive features and positive themes make them a popular choice among parents and children alike..
Reviews for "Unveiling the wonders of rainbow magic ebooks"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with the Rainbow Magic eBooks. The stories were predictable and lacked any real depth or creativity. The characters were one-dimensional and the plots were repetitive. The writing style was also incredibly basic and lacked any sort of substance. I found myself feeling bored and uninterested throughout the entire book. Overall, I would not recommend the Rainbow Magic eBooks to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
2. David - 2 stars
I found the Rainbow Magic eBooks to be quite mediocre. While they may be suitable for younger children, as an adult reader, I didn't find them engaging or well-crafted. The plots were simplistic and the characters felt flat and uninteresting. Additionally, the writing style seemed aimed at a much younger audience, with basic vocabulary and sentence structure. Overall, I would say that the Rainbow Magic eBooks were nothing more than average and didn't offer anything particularly memorable or enjoyable.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I was not impressed with the Rainbow Magic eBooks. The stories seemed formulaic and lacked originality. Each book followed a similar pattern, with a problem arising and being easily resolved by the end. The characters were also unmemorable and lacked any sort of depth or development. Additionally, the writing style was quite simplistic and didn't offer any real challenge or engagement for the reader. Overall, I found the Rainbow Magic eBooks to be a forgettable reading experience and would not recommend them to others.
4. Michael - 1 star
I found the Rainbow Magic eBooks to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The stories felt like they were just rehashed versions of each other, with predictable plots and outcomes. The characters were also uninspiring and lacked any sort of unique qualities. Furthermore, the writing style was overly simplistic and lacked any sort of depth or complexity. Overall, I was not entertained or engaged by the Rainbow Magic eBooks and would not recommend them to anyone looking for a captivating or imaginative read.
5. Laura - 2 stars
I was not impressed with the Rainbow Magic eBooks. The stories felt repetitive and lacked originality. The characters were also quite flat and didn't have much depth to them. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic and didn't offer much excitement or engagement for the reader. I found myself becoming bored and uninterested in the stories quite quickly. Overall, I would not recommend the Rainbow Magic eBooks as they didn't offer anything memorable or captivating.