The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz - Illustrated by Sarah Abrehart - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The year lies ahead of us, its full moons, equinoxes and soltices, meteor showers, flowers, cakes and festivities all to come, from the first scent of spring on the cold air [through] to the cosy candlelit cave of winter...

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The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark, and appreciate each month of the year in your own way.

The 2025 edition has the theme ‘ancient astronomy’ and includes constellation stories from around the world and a ‘megalith of the month’ - exploring the myths and astronomical alignments of stone circles and cairns from across the UK and Ireland. It also includes a brand new Cake of the Month feature.

Readers find themselves referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.

From tide tables to moon phases, wildlife to folklore and mouthwatering seasonal recipes this is the comprehensive guide to 2025.

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As I sat reading this book, I could see the season changing before my eyes. Although The Almanac covers next year, it nonetheless seemed to speak to me as I observed the sudden drop in temperature and the yellowing of the leaves outside my window.

It is a small volume which contains a wealth of knowledge. As expected, it is broken down into monthly chapters with each of them being folkishly illustrated by Sarah Abrehart.

Each month has a title chapter page listing it's contents which include the religious festivals of a range of religions. These vary from the Chinese New Year through to Litha, the Pagan Midsummer Festival, international celebration days, UK Bank Holidays and so much more.

Within each of the monthly chapters there is a marvellous array of information. There are tide tables, lunar gardening, music, crafts, recipes, all with the theme of ancient astronomy running throughout. There is something to appeal to everyone in this whether your interest is the giant megaliths or the moon cycles.

This is one book I shall be keeping beside me next year as I fully expect to want to reread it each month of 2025.  It would make a fantastic Christmas gift, and I can think of several people who I know that would enjoy referring to this. 

I highly recommend this lovely Almanac and I am sure that you enjoy it too.

ISBN: 978 1856754682

Publisher:  Gaia

Formats:  e-book and hardcover

No. of Pages:  288 (hardcover)

About the Author:

Lia Leendertz is an award-winning garden and food writer based in Bristol. She presents a monthly podcast, 'As the Season Turns', about what to look out for in the month ahead and writes a free weekly newsletter, 'Lia's Living Almanac'.

Her reinvention of the traditional rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers eager to connect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month.

(book and all media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)