Rating: 
Summary: More Pagan Lite
Review: That time of year when the Wheel turns and another season comes into play. I always enjoy a book that addresses the particular event or holiday in a unique and unusual way.Raven Grimassi approaches "Beltane" with a collection of myths and lore and some spells, art and recipes that are specific to this time of the year. He has collected the stories of the May Pole, the May King and May Queen, The Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green and so many of your favorite stories of this time of year. He even includes a bit on Mummery (for those who know Loreena McKennitt song "Mummers Dance"). Of course he also covers a variety of Fairy lore and some lore on flowers as well. There is a recipe for some "Quick May Wine" that sounds yummy, and a microwave recipe for custard for the modern Witch. The arts and crafts section has some instructions for wreaths and garlands, but I really liked the "pentacle hair braids". This book is just chock full of information, projects and even rituals for the celebration of Beltane. I found it easy to read, light hearted and what I have come to expect from Raven Grimassi. Add another book to my list of good books to have on the library shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great book in the Llewellyn Sabat Series
Review: That time of year when the Wheel turns and another season comes into play. I always enjoy a book that addresses the particular event or holiday in a unique and unusual way. Raven Grimassi approaches "Beltane" with a collection of myths and lore and some spells, art and recipes that are specific to this time of the year. He has collected the stories of the May Pole, the May King and May Queen, The Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green and so many of your favorite stories of this time of year. He even includes a bit on Mummery (for those who know Loreena McKennitt song "Mummers Dance"). Of course he also covers a variety of Fairy lore and some lore on flowers as well. There is a recipe for some "Quick May Wine" that sounds yummy, and a microwave recipe for custard for the modern Witch. The arts and crafts section has some instructions for wreaths and garlands, but I really liked the "pentacle hair braids". This book is just chock full of information, projects and even rituals for the celebration of Beltane. I found it easy to read, light hearted and what I have come to expect from Raven Grimassi. Add another book to my list of good books to have on the library shelf.
Rating:
Summary: The true value of spirit
Review: The Beltane book is a beautiful look into the religious and spiritual aspects of this seasonal celebration. The author artfully blends history, lore, and the gentle spirit of the Craft into this delightful book. Beltane is a useful book for a practical approach to creating May Day celebrations, and contains arts and crafts that can be made to enhance the celebration. It also provides the reader with a deeper understanding of the spirituality of this sacred season. However, for the immature reader who cannot comprehend the spirituality of Wicca/Witchcraft, and is simply seeking more magical spells and recipes for oils and incense, this book will probably seem like a waste of money.
Rating: 
Summary: I know less about Beltane now that I have read this book.
Review: There is very little in this book worth recommending. I am reading the Lewellyn Sabbat series in sequence and found that much of what Grimmassi has written about spring was covered in "Ostara". There is very, very little historical information about the actual sabbat. He also spends far too much time commenting on the Roman origins of many Celtic/English celebrations (lest we not forget that the Romans were uninvited guests in England). He only passingly mentions that the Druids used this holiday to conduct human sacrifices, which would have been interesting to read. Grimassi makes no attempt to beef up the historical significance of Beltane. What the book is huge on is fairy lore and flower lore. There are many pages dedicated to fairies (with 2 humpback stories that are practically the same) as well as pages of correspondence tables on flowers. The ritual information is fair and the spells are perhaps the best part of the book - outside of the art. I would only recommend this book for people who are interested in fairies or flower lore. I don't feel enlightened at all about Beltane and I am frankly very disappointed as I wanted to read this book the most. It is the weakest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the $ + Tax I paid for it.
Review: This book had few good points to it (the opperative word being "few"). So, here are my point by point likes & dislikes: Dislikes: * It was too short to possibly cost $ (plus tax) * He does not include a single recipe for an incense or oil, etc. * He only includes 4 spells in the book * His list of Beltane herbs and flowers is too short. * He wastes space with so many lengthy fairy tales. * There just doesn't seem to be enough effort on the part of Mr. Grimassi, and it sadly shows. Likes: * The FEW herbal correspondance. * The VERY LITTLE faery info. * The art work throughout the book.
Rating:
Summary: A Merry Book of May!!
Review: This book presents an excellent blend of historical origins, tracing the customs, beliefs and practices commonly associated with ancient and modern May Day celebrations. Like all of Grimassi's works, the material is supported by historical sources supporting the views presented by the author. While little is actually known about ancient Celtic beliefs and practices (the majority of modern works being largely speculation) only an author as knowledgeable and experienced as Grimassi could compile enough material to create a book on Beltane as singular subject. Readers looking for facts about Beltane, insights into associated beliefs & practices, and an abundance of related lore, will be delighted with Grimassi's book. Readers ignorant of historical backgrounds, mired in personal agenda, or preferring Paganism the way they wish it was (as opposed to the way it actually was) will probably cry out for a rewrite of this book!
Rating:
Summary: A Merry Book of May!!
Review: This book would have been better if it weren't being used as another platform for Grimassi's view that the Etruscans are responsible for all modern Paganism today. Not enough information about Celtic practices, and too much stretching on the Italian info. If I wanted to read about Italian Witchcraft (as opposed to reading about Beltane), I'd pick up one of his books more overtly on topic. Additionally, I tried two of the recipes out of this book, and neither turned out. The recipe for the wreath cake was especially disastrous -- Llewellyn needs to check the measurements!
Rating:
Summary: Can we have a re-write?
Review: This book would have been better if it weren't being used as another platform for Grimassi's view that the Etruscans are responsible for all modern Paganism today. Not enough information about Celtic practices, and too much stretching on the Italian info. If I wanted to read about Italian Witchcraft (as opposed to reading about Beltane), I'd pick up one of his books more overtly on topic. Additionally, I tried two of the recipes out of this book, and neither turned out. The recipe for the wreath cake was especially disastrous -- Llewellyn needs to check the measurements!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is the only book on Beltane that sticks to the facts, without any flights of fancy on the part of the author, and I found it very refreshing. Like all of Grimassi's books this one is well researched and informative, going beyond what one generally finds in the vast majority of books written by contemporary Wiccan and Witchcraft authors. If you're looking for authentic material related to the historical background, and festival celebration of Beltane, this is the one.
Rating: 
Summary: about the same as the rest of this lewellyn series
Review: This series on sabbats are written in a way that seems that a child or a adult can pick it up. There is little personnal inclusion and overall the whole series makes out to be a sensationalized pagan history with out to much detail except a little background on the things that are commonly associated with the holidays. Not that I am complaining because the light reading and simple ideas that come with the books are just that and I didn't expect much more. I stress that these books are often very little expansion to what you can likely find in a book containing all of the sabbats.
The reason I gave this book a three is that a third of the book is about fairy lore. Though Grimassi does a fairly good job giving backgrounds on actual history, and in this book he goes into some quite length on the Maypole and Beltane fires; But he impresses me very little on discussing catagorical topics (such as fairy lore) as he only skims through the topic without laying much foundation and including little other then a few sensational details are often very common or worthless.
This book fits nicely among all the other childishly large books by lewellyn... I suppose it makes it easier to do the crafts... which in this book doesn't include much... Because I can't imagine someone needing help making a cone with taped on handles with a two page example to make a beltane basket.
The pictures in the whole series are black and white with out with very little detail. Remniscent of a childs coloring book, except in such a way that it would be difficult to use as a coloring book.
Since I do not have the book in front of me I wish I could give you more detail.
Overall, this book works well for its intent. As it offers a good place to start with the Wiccan/Pagan slant on the holidays. The bad thing is that the suggested crafts and practices and information are often overly simple, and there is much wasted space (as in this book with the section on fairy lore that doesn't really fit well with the book), and often the reading seems to be as if the auther cut and pasted details as he (in this case) found them rather then being an expert on the subject.
ANOTHER good thing is that the books in this series always seems to be available used... so for half of the retail price plus shipping... well it isn't 'that bad'
There is another series by a differant publisher that seems to be of the same nature that might worth comparing, so far I am only own this books from this series.
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