"well informed and recommended" Celtic Connections"enjoyable and interesting...excellent sourcebook, informative, easy to read" Dragon's BrewThe old festivals & folk customs which are still celebrated all over the British Isles each year represent a survival of the ancient concept of a seasonal cycle based on the sacredness of the land & the earth. The progress of the year is marked in folk tradition by customs & festivals, recording the changing seasons. Some festivals belong to a seasonal pattern of the agricultural cycle, others record the mystical journey of the Sun across the sky, both dating back to pagan religions. Each is a unique happening which can be experienced on many different levels of understanding & enjoyment. The Sacred Ring of the year is a reminder of our ancient past & is still a potent symbol for the 20th century.