THE FAIRY PARTY BOOK: Bringing Magic into Every Celebration Throughout the Year

With celebration tips for 26 holidays throughout the year, including Halloween, Yule, Epiphany and Thanksgiving, Stern's book quite enjoyably invites readers to add a whimsical luster to their holidays by invoking the presence of the "fairy folk." She freely mixes sacred days (Lammas, and the solstices and equinoxes) with secular holidays (Mother's and Father's Day) and holidays that are really just excuses to throw a party (Groundhog Day). She also offers suggestions for adding a little "fairy" lightness to occasions such as weddings, birthdays, showers and retirement parties, and for creating parties for no reason at all. Stern, a folklorist, is knowledgeable about traditional folklore and customs, but what really distinguishes this book (besides its vivid green type) are its recipes. On Groundhog day, also the Neopagan holiday of Imbolc, devotees feast on Swedish Cheesecake, while the fall harvest festival features Hunters' Stew. (Oct.)