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The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year
• A daybook containing information about rituals and celebrations that have for centuries been associated with the changing seasons of the year.
• Includes charts of equinoxes and solstices, movable holy days, and monthly lunar phases through 2033
• First edition sold more than 30,000 copies
Pagan rites and festivals are at the root of many traditional holidays in the Western world. Embracing a sensitivity we have lost, the Pagan traditions emphasize mystical spirituality, reverence for the feminine principle, and the links between people and the earth. This unique daybook contains a treasury of information about rituals and celebrations that have for centuries been associated with the changing seasons of the year. Included are the observances of the ancient Greek, Roman, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse traditions, as well as Wiccan traditions and the worship of the Goddess.
In The Pagan Book of Days the author provides details on auspicious and inauspicious days, holy days of ancient gods and goddesses, and the eight stations of the year (the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days). He also includes lunar and solar charts indicating dates of major Pagan celebrations from the year 2011 through 2033. Illustrations throughout depict images from the classical and northern European traditions. The Pagan Book of Days is an enlightening way to incorporate these ancient cultural and spiritual practices and awarenesses into your daily life.
• Includes charts of equinoxes and solstices, movable holy days, and monthly lunar phases through 2033
• First edition sold more than 30,000 copies
Pagan rites and festivals are at the root of many traditional holidays in the Western world. Embracing a sensitivity we have lost, the Pagan traditions emphasize mystical spirituality, reverence for the feminine principle, and the links between people and the earth. This unique daybook contains a treasury of information about rituals and celebrations that have for centuries been associated with the changing seasons of the year. Included are the observances of the ancient Greek, Roman, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse traditions, as well as Wiccan traditions and the worship of the Goddess.
In The Pagan Book of Days the author provides details on auspicious and inauspicious days, holy days of ancient gods and goddesses, and the eight stations of the year (the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days). He also includes lunar and solar charts indicating dates of major Pagan celebrations from the year 2011 through 2033. Illustrations throughout depict images from the classical and northern European traditions. The Pagan Book of Days is an enlightening way to incorporate these ancient cultural and spiritual practices and awarenesses into your daily life.
164 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
25 people are currently reading
1819 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Pennick
127 books91 followersNigel Campbell Pennick, born 1946 in Guildford, Surrey, England in the United Kingdom, an author publishing on occultism, magic, natural magic, divination, subterranea, rural folk customs, traditional performance and Celtic art as well as runosophy.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 8, 2017
This is a good little book for what its subtitle states: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year.
It strikes me that there might be an awful lot more to say about this, in a more scholarly work. (For example Joseph Campbell or Frazer.)
But for a casual reader (or perhaps a prospective wikken) it has a small amount of info for the days of the year.
A couple of examples: December 6: known as Thor/St. Nicholas/Santa Clause/Egyptian Day.
(That example was picked just because I turned to my birthday. Who knew???)
There's an index in back; some fairly useless charts of things that can be easily looked up on the web; and a pretty good introduction covering a number of topics over the course of 26 pages.
Anyway, a fun book to dip into on occasion, and could generate some conversation if left on the coffee table, especially if wearing the right costumes for a dinner party.
By the way, I should add that this isn't a coffee-table format book by any means. It's a short paperback in a fairly small format (6x9 in.)
By the way, there is another book on Goodreads with the same title, author listed as "Nigel" rather than Nancy Pennick. Maybe they are the same book?
It strikes me that there might be an awful lot more to say about this, in a more scholarly work. (For example Joseph Campbell or Frazer.)
But for a casual reader (or perhaps a prospective wikken) it has a small amount of info for the days of the year.
A couple of examples: December 6: known as Thor/St. Nicholas/Santa Clause/Egyptian Day.
The Gnostic followers of St.Nicholas, the Nicolaites, taught that the only way to salvation lay through frequent sexual intercourse. In northern Europe, St. Nicholas absorbed Pagan attributes from Woden (Odin), chief of the wild hunt, who rides though the sky with reindeer and forty-two supernatural huntsmen. Since the Reformation, this saint has become merged with the Father Christmas Yuletide. The modern Santa Clause also has elements of Thor, traditionally depicted riding a goat and carrying a wassail bowl.
(That example was picked just because I turned to my birthday. Who knew???)
There's an index in back; some fairly useless charts of things that can be easily looked up on the web; and a pretty good introduction covering a number of topics over the course of 26 pages.
Anyway, a fun book to dip into on occasion, and could generate some conversation if left on the coffee table, especially if wearing the right costumes for a dinner party.
By the way, I should add that this isn't a coffee-table format book by any means. It's a short paperback in a fairly small format (6x9 in.)
By the way, there is another book on Goodreads with the same title, author listed as "Nigel" rather than Nancy Pennick. Maybe they are the same book?
December 11, 2017
An interesting book that I think gives an outline so that you can then look more deeply into whichever Pagan God or Goddess you are interested in. He also talks about how Pagan deities were "made Christian" and so gives a light history into some Christian beliefs as well. This may not be the ultimate Pagan reference book but as I say it does give a good starting point.
August 1, 2012
Not really useful for what it wants to be useful as... which is supposedly a Pagan daybook.
Hooooowwwwweeeeevvvver... I find this book eternally and consistently useful for what it was never meant to be useful as, which is a treatise on how nonclock using populations labelled and gauged time. This has been invaluable with writing fantasy works, and I love this book for that reason.
Hooooowwwwweeeeevvvver... I find this book eternally and consistently useful for what it was never meant to be useful as, which is a treatise on how nonclock using populations labelled and gauged time. This has been invaluable with writing fantasy works, and I love this book for that reason.
October 17, 2017
What a fun book! I view this as a reference book if nothing else; it's a great starter point to see common beliefs, phrases, and religious practices that were performed throughout the year in the past. Along with runes, information on feast days (Catholic included), and rhymes on birth stones, this reminds me of a more unchanging version of a Farmer's Almanac. I particularly enjoyed the notes about various beliefs in regard to weather--rings around the moon, if weather is like this during this month it'll be xyz during this month. I've always had a fascination with that and was raised on a good bit of that lore, so seeing it put together in a book is great.
November 3, 2008
A bit esoteric, and I'm not hip to all this neo-paganism. I was hoping to learn about the origin of some holidays, but this doesn't have much history. Bother.
June 20, 2013
Useful little compendium of newsy tidbits and historical/mythological/philosophical info. Line drawings, no pix, but somthing interesting about almost every day in the year.
May 10, 2022
Fabulous little reference book. Covers a wide variety of traditions, gives a clear-cut primer on differences in calendars and local time determination relative to the actual center meridian of a timezone, detailed but succinct. Also, as a bonus, doesn't use the word "sabbat" - you love to see a neopagan book without the antisemitism.
November 20, 2013
As a Celtic Reconstructionist, it is somewhat difficult to review Nigel Pennick’s Pagan Book of Days when it so clearly is not intended for someone on my spiritual path. Who it is intended for, however, is unclear. In his introduction, Pennick states that he is focusing on the Northern/Western traditions (which he extends as far as Serbia), but then also discusses the ancient Pagan Roman calendar year (which, though European, cannot be considered northern). Further, he occasionally references to Egyptian and Indian deities, as well as highlights Egyptian days in the calendar portion of the book. I have since concluded that what he is doing is providing a survey of the deities and days of importance of the various people who have had an impact on the British Isles over the centuries—with a nod to modern British Isles pagan groups, such as the Fellowship of Isis—so that his book is accessible to as large a group as possible. While a noble endeavor, the end result fails, in that the survey is too general to be of much use at all.
The bulk of the book is comprised of month-by-month chapters further subdivided into individual days, with the major festivals and folkloric practices from various cultures listed. Each month is given a small introduction of the origin of the modern name, along with a brief explanation of how that influences the month’s “character.” This is flanked by an introduction to the book itself and various charts for moon phases, transitional holy days, etc.
And that appears to be it. There is no discussion of how these days are decided upon, any variation that may occur depending on where you live, or subtle variations between traditions. Further, everything is pegged to the Gregorian (modern solar) calendar, after reference is made to these events not falling on the same days each year, as they frequently were determined by the lunar cycle. Doing so is useful for modern pagan practitioners, as we live in a world very much ruled by the twenty-four hour clock, but it seems rather odd to declare that the ancients did otherwise, and then discard that tradition without any explanation.
Nigel Pennick clearly is an erudite pagan and a gifted writer, and I am interested in his other books. Nevertheless, I am saddened that so much energy was poured into this book, which provides very little value to its readership. A list of dates is not enough. I cannot see how knowing when Roman, Abrahamic and Greek festivals could be useful to an Asatru practitioner, and vice versa. It may, perhaps, be of interest to a Wiccan whose personal deities span many traditions, but there are so many that it is impossible for one person to observe them all. When it comes down to it, even the most novice of practitioners will already have established a calendar for themselves, and this book will provide very little insight beyond what can be gleaned from various Internet sources.
The bulk of the book is comprised of month-by-month chapters further subdivided into individual days, with the major festivals and folkloric practices from various cultures listed. Each month is given a small introduction of the origin of the modern name, along with a brief explanation of how that influences the month’s “character.” This is flanked by an introduction to the book itself and various charts for moon phases, transitional holy days, etc.
And that appears to be it. There is no discussion of how these days are decided upon, any variation that may occur depending on where you live, or subtle variations between traditions. Further, everything is pegged to the Gregorian (modern solar) calendar, after reference is made to these events not falling on the same days each year, as they frequently were determined by the lunar cycle. Doing so is useful for modern pagan practitioners, as we live in a world very much ruled by the twenty-four hour clock, but it seems rather odd to declare that the ancients did otherwise, and then discard that tradition without any explanation.
Nigel Pennick clearly is an erudite pagan and a gifted writer, and I am interested in his other books. Nevertheless, I am saddened that so much energy was poured into this book, which provides very little value to its readership. A list of dates is not enough. I cannot see how knowing when Roman, Abrahamic and Greek festivals could be useful to an Asatru practitioner, and vice versa. It may, perhaps, be of interest to a Wiccan whose personal deities span many traditions, but there are so many that it is impossible for one person to observe them all. When it comes down to it, even the most novice of practitioners will already have established a calendar for themselves, and this book will provide very little insight beyond what can be gleaned from various Internet sources.
March 17, 2009
This book is a must for most Pagans. My copy of it is rather dated, 20th century, but oh well. Once you know what festival or date you are looking for, you can find it online nowadays. But this book is an excellent resource for calendar dates, researching gods' & goddesses' sacred days, and other lore. Trusted author too.
November 26, 2007
I like this book, althoughthere are many pagan books of days, b/c it doesn't offer as much pandering crap as most of them do. What a relief.
March 8, 2008
I wish I remembered to pull this out more often. I mean, what if I'm missing the perfect opportunity for ... something ... just because I haven't paid attention to what day it is?
September 28, 2009
2nd bible
May 7, 2012
Nice reference
July 26, 2019
Agree with others in not finding this book useful for its intended purpose. However, I've had this book for many years and I still enjoying checking each day for a bit of trivia and history.
February 19, 2016
Feb..19.2016read second time...
March 27, 2017
Bland
March 26, 2023
A HELPFUL EXPLANATORY REFERENCE TO THE PAGAN CALENDAR
Author Nigel Pennick wrote in the Introduction to this 1992 book, “The Pagan tradition is grounded in mystical and numinous elements existing between matter and spirit. The world over it is called something like ‘the old religion,’ or ‘the elder faith,’ acknowledging its senior status among religions. It places emphasis on the links between people, their land, and the natural cycles of the seasons… many people no longer feel rooted in the soil or connected to the seasons. In contrast, pagan myth and ritual embody a profound respect for the physical world and the seasonal nature of the sacred year. In the Pagan sacramental vision, to live according to the natural year is to be in harmony with all things natural and supernatural.” (Pg. 1)
He explains, “The days of the week are named after the gods and goddesses who are their rulers. Most of them are Anglo-Saxon in origin… Traditionally, Sunday is the first day of the week. It is also known as the Lord’s Day from its original association with the … sun god… Monday is the sacred day of the moon… Tuesday is dedicated to the powers of the planet Mars… Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Woden or Odin… Thursday is the day … dedicated to … Thor, god of thunder… Friday is the day of Venus. It takes its name from Frigg, the goddess of love and transformation… Saturday is dedicated to … the god Saturn…” (Pg. 8-9)
He outlines, “In central and northern Europe, the natural year is measured by eight major festival days. These days are the equinoxes and solstices of the sun’s year and the four cross-quarter days that come between them. They are observed by all followers of nature religions. Of the eight festivals, four---the equinoxes and solstices---are movable: they are defined by the apparent movement of the sun… These four solar points represent the mutual relationships inherent in the interaction between light and darkness… The four major remaining festivals of the natural year are recognized as more feminine in character. They are the earth-related festivals, related to the cycle of plant growth and the changes of the seasons…” (Pg. 13-14)
He notes, “Samhain… 1 November, marks the beginning of winter… Its eve marked the end of the old year in the Celtic calendar, and its dawn the beginning of the new year. Samhain is thus a time between the years and between the worlds, when the veil between the present and the past, the living and the dead, is thin. It is the Festival of the Dead, that time of year when we remember our ancestors and hail our descendants…. The festival of Samhain is celebrated widely on its eve. This is the Christianized festival of All Hallows’ Eve, popularly known as Halloween… The paper masks, rubber bats, plastic skeletons, and mock witches’ hats of present-day Halloween parties are a modern expression of the Pagan festival of remembrance of death and the departed.” (Pg. 18-19)
He then goes month-by-month through the entire year, pointing out the festivals for each day: “January is sacred to the Roman god Janus, the two-faced divinity of endings and beginnings (Pg. 27); ‘February… comes from the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars (Pg. 37); “The month of March is sacred to the Roman god Mars” (Pg. 46); “The month of April is named after the Greek goddess Aphrodite (the Roman Venus) (Pg. 56); “The merry month of May is named after the goddess who is chief of the Greek Seven Sisters … and the mother of Hermes” (Pg. 65); “June is named after the Roman Great Mother goddess Juno, the Greek Hera: (Pg. 75); “July is named after Julius Caesar” (Pg. 84); “August is named after the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar” (Pg. 93); “September is so called because it was the seventh month of the old Roman calendar” (Pg. 103); “October, the eighth month of the old Roman calendar, is sacred to the goddess Astraea” (Pg. 112); “November is the first month of the winter quarter” (Pg. 122); “December s named after the tenth month of the Roman calendar… the Roman goddess Vesta … was also said to rule this month.” (Pg. 132).
He explains individual days, such as: “17 December: The Roman festival of Saturnalia ran for seven days and was known for its extravagant decadence.” (Pg. 138) “25 December: The observance of Christmas contains many elements from a number of different religious sources. The many ceremonies and religious sources make it the most important festival of the year.” (Pg. 141)
This is a useful reference source for anyone interested in the pagan/secular festivals.
Author Nigel Pennick wrote in the Introduction to this 1992 book, “The Pagan tradition is grounded in mystical and numinous elements existing between matter and spirit. The world over it is called something like ‘the old religion,’ or ‘the elder faith,’ acknowledging its senior status among religions. It places emphasis on the links between people, their land, and the natural cycles of the seasons… many people no longer feel rooted in the soil or connected to the seasons. In contrast, pagan myth and ritual embody a profound respect for the physical world and the seasonal nature of the sacred year. In the Pagan sacramental vision, to live according to the natural year is to be in harmony with all things natural and supernatural.” (Pg. 1)
He explains, “The days of the week are named after the gods and goddesses who are their rulers. Most of them are Anglo-Saxon in origin… Traditionally, Sunday is the first day of the week. It is also known as the Lord’s Day from its original association with the … sun god… Monday is the sacred day of the moon… Tuesday is dedicated to the powers of the planet Mars… Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Woden or Odin… Thursday is the day … dedicated to … Thor, god of thunder… Friday is the day of Venus. It takes its name from Frigg, the goddess of love and transformation… Saturday is dedicated to … the god Saturn…” (Pg. 8-9)
He outlines, “In central and northern Europe, the natural year is measured by eight major festival days. These days are the equinoxes and solstices of the sun’s year and the four cross-quarter days that come between them. They are observed by all followers of nature religions. Of the eight festivals, four---the equinoxes and solstices---are movable: they are defined by the apparent movement of the sun… These four solar points represent the mutual relationships inherent in the interaction between light and darkness… The four major remaining festivals of the natural year are recognized as more feminine in character. They are the earth-related festivals, related to the cycle of plant growth and the changes of the seasons…” (Pg. 13-14)
He notes, “Samhain… 1 November, marks the beginning of winter… Its eve marked the end of the old year in the Celtic calendar, and its dawn the beginning of the new year. Samhain is thus a time between the years and between the worlds, when the veil between the present and the past, the living and the dead, is thin. It is the Festival of the Dead, that time of year when we remember our ancestors and hail our descendants…. The festival of Samhain is celebrated widely on its eve. This is the Christianized festival of All Hallows’ Eve, popularly known as Halloween… The paper masks, rubber bats, plastic skeletons, and mock witches’ hats of present-day Halloween parties are a modern expression of the Pagan festival of remembrance of death and the departed.” (Pg. 18-19)
He then goes month-by-month through the entire year, pointing out the festivals for each day: “January is sacred to the Roman god Janus, the two-faced divinity of endings and beginnings (Pg. 27); ‘February… comes from the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars (Pg. 37); “The month of March is sacred to the Roman god Mars” (Pg. 46); “The month of April is named after the Greek goddess Aphrodite (the Roman Venus) (Pg. 56); “The merry month of May is named after the goddess who is chief of the Greek Seven Sisters … and the mother of Hermes” (Pg. 65); “June is named after the Roman Great Mother goddess Juno, the Greek Hera: (Pg. 75); “July is named after Julius Caesar” (Pg. 84); “August is named after the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar” (Pg. 93); “September is so called because it was the seventh month of the old Roman calendar” (Pg. 103); “October, the eighth month of the old Roman calendar, is sacred to the goddess Astraea” (Pg. 112); “November is the first month of the winter quarter” (Pg. 122); “December s named after the tenth month of the Roman calendar… the Roman goddess Vesta … was also said to rule this month.” (Pg. 132).
He explains individual days, such as: “17 December: The Roman festival of Saturnalia ran for seven days and was known for its extravagant decadence.” (Pg. 138) “25 December: The observance of Christmas contains many elements from a number of different religious sources. The many ceremonies and religious sources make it the most important festival of the year.” (Pg. 141)
This is a useful reference source for anyone interested in the pagan/secular festivals.
September 7, 2020
This quaint little volume is a bit all over the map! There are various holy days from Greco-Roman traditions, Egyptian traditions, the British Isles, etc. I have fun using it to populate the monthly overview pages of my bullet journal with observances that relate to my own practice. Occasionally there's something that jumps out and inspires me to do a bit more research into the subject. Still on the hunt for a decent Pagan daily devotional...
August 31, 2025
Of course, Pagans wouldn't celebrate anything on my birthday. It was interesting, I just wished they were a little more detailed about the, what and why they celebrated these days. It felt like a snapshot of the days. I would have liked more history of why some of these pagan deities were so great to have a day, why was it that particular day, when did they start celebrating and for how long.
March 17, 2020
Basically, a calendar. There's a lot of different information here, but I felt there was so much inclusion that it feels more like a collection of prompts for further research. I'm happy to have more to go one, further reading to do, and more specific topics to look up, I was just expecting more than what I got.
June 25, 2020
A very handy reference guide with festivals of various Pagan backgrounds, I haven’t read it front to back as it’s more of a dip in and reference book, it also has interesting brief details and lists explaining a little about the festivals / special dates, including nature elements such as trees etc.
December 9, 2024
something that a serial killer would use to create algorithms for their cryptic ciphers that taunt the police. how dare the police not know what time of day undorne is, and how it it's defined by tidal waves. Also, the "virtue" is 'receptivity'.
Anyhow, all in seriousness, it was a fun read. I am definitely stealing some of these ideas if I ever write a serial killer novel
Anyhow, all in seriousness, it was a fun read. I am definitely stealing some of these ideas if I ever write a serial killer novel
January 8, 2023
This is an interesting starting reference book. That said the book’s dates are not all correct and given my edition is from 2001 and only offers dates up until 2008 most of the holidays will need to be cross referenced.
May 31, 2023
It's a decent guide on the major pagan holidays. Maybe I went into it with the wrong expectations but it was far less inclusive and explained the history of even the major holidays far less than I expected. If you want something with more history and culture, this probably isn't the book for you
November 18, 2023
Great reference for pagan and non Christian holidays and the calendar in general. Goes from lunar phases to particular days. Very readable. Easy to consult. A must have!. A fast read the first time. It needs to be read, studied, and considered often. Very rewarding. Highly recommended!
June 24, 2020
real easy to read plus i learned that my mommom’s birthday is said to be the unluckiest day of the year
January 27, 2021
Basically a reference book
Read
November 30, 2021Wasn’t a terrible book, just wasn’t what I expected it to be, or what I felt it was advertised to be.
April 7, 2022
Day by day information with information about pagan history, festivals and the god and goddesses. Quick overview of the above in a lovely presented book.
October 11, 2023
Such a nice little guide to basic pagan practice around the calendar. I also loved all the little illustrations!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews