Llewellyn's 2021 Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2020 to Mabon 2021

by Suzanne Ress, Jason Mankey, Laura Tempest Zakroff

Bring more magic and enjoyment into the eight Wiccan holidays with this practical almanac's fun and fresh ideas for rituals, rites, recipes, and crafts. Featuring some of the best writers in the Witch and Pagan community, Llewellyn's 2021 Sabbats Almanac shares articles that provide new perspectives on each sabbat, complete with hands-on rituals and activities to help deepen your practice and sense of the sacred.

Discover different types of flowers for Litha and what they attract to your life. Explore toasting rituals for Mabon from around the world. Learn how to reach your full potential with powerful Yule traditions. Make a wide variety of sabbat treats, from pumpkin pie to mimosas and milkshakes. With this almanac's impressive collection of articles, crafts, and spells, your year will be filled with amazing celebrations and wonderful memories.

Genres: Spirituality, Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Paganism, Wicca

312 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2020

Reviews

[Anna (Bananas) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent guide to the wheel of the year, its history and traditions as well as suggestions for new celebration. This was my first year celebrating all the Sabbats and I really enjoyed it. I imagine this type of book may not be as helpful after you’re knowledgeable and comfortable with the Sabbats and what they represent. For a beginner it’s very informative.

My favorite sections were Cosmic Sway, which went into the astrology of the holiday; Tales and Traditions for the history; and Feasts and Treats. I found my new favorite recipe for Ostara quiche (with LOTS of homegrown herbs) and homemade sausage with maple syrup, which I’ve made at least half a dozen times since.

The crafts were mostly a miss for me, although we did a couple of them. I’m not really a crafty person though. The spells and rituals were hit or miss, but I prefer making up my own words and traditions. Still, some of them were helpful in that I took bits and pieces from them. We did a jack-o’-lantern spell. I liked the idea of creating a stone circle for Litha (like a mini Stonehenge), baking bread for Lughnasadh, and finding a local stone to save as a charm to increase your connection to the local land.

[MaggiCat Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Many of the articles are 2-star reads. Simply, they’re boring. I own and have read every Sabbat Almanac published and I guess at this point it’s just rote.

Seriously, one more article about John Barleycorn on Lughnasadh and I want to harvest his body myself.

Pumpkin pie at Mabon isn’t inspiring.

Candy corn candle holders on Samhain? For real? That’s a pin on Pinterest not a magickal craft.

These are truly desperate articles and it shows. The only ones I consecutively enjoyed was the addition of the Spell articles. It’s too bad they dropped the Crystals articles like they included last year.

Llewellyn, y’all are the biggest publisher in the game. Surely you can break this mouldy mold! Give us something fresh, something expansive and immersive instead of regurgitating the basics back to us! Baby witches might be wow’ed by this but your mature witches deserve better.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another trip around the sun (and around the Wheel). I enjoyed reading this year's Llewellyn's Sabbat's book. IMO the Spells were a little more "down to earth" or easier/less required ingredients than last year's. Last year's were probably for more of the Wiccan or High Priestess Witches. I do enjoy connecting with each Sabbat year-round and I will be adding some of these spells/ideas to my Grimoire.

The break down for each Sabbat was:

History/Lore of that Sabbat
Cosmic Sway- (the Astrology/Moon happenings during that Sabbat)
Tales and Traditions- (this was hit and miss. Sometimes too much author centered)
Feasts and Treats
Crafty Crafts
Spells
Ritual

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I finally was able to read after a long death with a death of a relative and a violent ex-husband. It has a lot of information that is both useful and important to those that practice this faith. I plan on using some of the recipes in the book with my kids. Thanks to the author! :)

[Umide Sacoor Ahnemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as Llewellyn's books might be on the sugary, trendy-witchy, new-agey side of things, this almanac of their still offers quite a nice wealth of recipes, hands-on activities, lore and craft. Whatever else one might think of the superficiality, it's fun and the whole family can be involved. I might just buy the 2022 almanac, as a companion to Lia Leendertz's phenomenal ALMANAC.

[Nicole Joliada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. It gives you insight on each Sabbat from multiple views. Each Sabbat comes with background about the celebration, ideas & traditions on how to celebrate and a few crafts or spells to try for that Sabbat. As a new practitioner it was just what I needed to start learning.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info

There was a lot of great info in this book. I really loved it!! It was definitely with the read

[Rebekah Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I found sooner! Found in July of 2021 but will definitely be buying next addition! Wide variety of activities/recipes/lore/spells.

[Fi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot! I don’t think I’ll buy one every year, but I’m happy to have this one!

[Pamela Rowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was informative, but I would not buy it again.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Alain del Risco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, the Almanacs are a mishmash of lore, history, and different beliefs. It's a great read for learning how others see and interpret pagan traditions. Enjoyed reading.