The Stations of the Sun

By Ronald Hutton,

Book cover of The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain

Book description

Comprehensive and engaging, this colourful study covers the whole sweep of ritual history from the earliest written records to the present day. From May Day revels and Midsummer fires, to Harvest Home and Hallowe'en, to the twelve days of Christmas, Ronald Hutton takes us on a fascinating journey through the…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Stations of the Sun as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is my go-to book whenever I start a new Halloween writing project. It grounds me in details about the origins of Halloween (and holidays throughout the year) and illustrates brilliantly why the turning of the seasons has always been critical, and how holidays mark important cultural moments in so many ways. The origin of Halloween is here, but so is the origin of celebration itself.

From Lesley's list on Halloween celebrations.

As the title implies, this book is a comprehensive survey of the many kinds of rituals and observances for different seasons to mark the passage of the year, reaching far back into history and pre-history. While many of these celebrations are no longer observed, some have endured and found popularity throughout the world. This is a fascinating look into British traditions and folklore, both those of pagan origin and those taken over or refitted by Christianity in more recent times.  

From Tim's list on British folklore and customs.

If you love The Stations of the Sun...

Ad

Book cover of Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

Tap Dancing on Everest by Mimi Zieman,

Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctor—and only woman—on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.

The team attempts a new route up…

Want books like The Stations of the Sun?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Stations of the Sun.

Browse books like The Stations of the Sun

Book cover of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween
Book cover of In Search of England: Journeys into the English Past
Book cover of The Way of Wyrd

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,883

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like The Stations of the Sun, you might also like...

Book cover of Who Is a Worthy Mother?: An Intimate History of Adoption

Who Is a Worthy Mother? by Rebecca Wellington,

I grew up thinking that being adopted didn’t matter. I was wrong. This book is my journey uncovering the significance and true history of adoption practices in America. Now, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the renewed debate over women’s reproductive rights places…

Book cover of Harry and Arthur: Truman, Vandenberg, and the Partnership That Created the Free World

Harry and Arthur by Lawrence J. Haas,

With Franklin Roosevelt’s death in April 1945, Vice President Harry Truman and Senator Arthur Vandenberg, the Republican leader on foreign policy, inherited a world in turmoil. With Europe flattened and the Soviets emerging as America’s new adversary, Truman and Vandenberg built a tight, bipartisan partnership at a bitterly partisan time…

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Halloween, folklore, and London?

Halloween 106 books
Folklore 384 books
London 872 books