The Turning of the Year: Lore and Legends of the Irish Seasons

by Eithne Massey

From the author of the hugely successful book Legendary Ireland, The Turning of the Year explores the Celtic division of the year, from Samhain to Imbolc, to Bealtaine, to Lunasa, back to Samhain. It examines the significance of particular times of the year and features re-tellings of various legends associated with them. The book will look at the close connection of the Irish with the land and with nature, bringing us on an exhilarating journey through the Irish seasons and the customs that welcomed each one in turn.

Along the way we encounter saints, scholars, kings and goddesses, whose stories, preserved in myth and folktale, counterpoint the book's exploration both of lost traditions such as keening and how other customs and rituals have been preserved in today's celebrations and communal events. It brings to the reader a new awareness of how such ritual can still have relevance in our lives, and a deeper appreciation of the power of the natural world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ireland, Magic, Folklore

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2021

About the author

Eithne Massey is a graduate of University College Dublin and NUI Maynooth, and a short-story writer. She has worked with the Arts Council and as a librarian. Her interest in mythology has been a lifelong one. Although she lives in Dublin, she is often found traveling to old and secret places around the country.

Reviews

[Annemarie Naughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to dip into- many things I knew but had forgotten and lots of new stuff too. Enjoyable

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another marvellous book I was gifted and to which I've returned now the nights are darkening and the fire is lit in the hearth, and reading time abounds.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe, as an American, I wasn’t the target audience for this book. Maybe it needs to be billed as a companion book to avoid confusion.

I picked it up while in Ireland because it seemed to be right up my alley and I wanted to read some folk stories. The intro says that it can be read as a standalone work, but I spent much of the book feeling like I was reading over my head, that I was reading a book on Irish folklore but was expected to already know about Irish folklore.

It did have some great bits in it, and the author has an imaginative and evocative style. I would be interested in reading her earlier works that I suspect might be more of a primer on straight Irish folk stories without reference to characters and cultural commentary I wasn’t familiar with.

[Malina.Liest_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌜☆ - 8,5/10

Very entertaining and interesting to read, has been very useful for my research!

Where does Halloween come from? What is Samhain and what Lughnasa? Why do you celebrate St. Brigid‘s Day and St. Patrick‘s Day in Ireland? And what is the Otherworld?

All that and more is being answered in this book in a very entertaining and interesting way. The author brings very well across that she has a deep and personal connection to the culture described in the book: the Irish culture. You get to know Ireland and its people on a different level. I recognised many rituals and traditions - I‘m currently an exchange student in Ireland - and a few times I was like „Ahaaa, that makes so much sense now.“ All in all a good read and worth a recommendation.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book, a huge amount of the appeal is just the thought that has gone into the design. From the printed canvas cover to the illustrations for the seasons and the leaf border on the folklore tales, it really is such a beautiful tome.
Eithne writes so well, I especially like how she retells the folklore, so many of them will stay in my mind. She writes openly and in an unbiased way. The perfect book for someone who wants to dip their toes into Irish folklore and history of the seasons.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting to see how myths legends and superstitions fit in throughout the year 😊

[Ann Marie Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating and informative work of Irish history and rituals. I especially love the illustrations per page.

[Life&books&socks Zlatka Minđek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celtic myths