Post by Ebony on Jul 19, 2006 1:31:12 GMT 1
To those of you with conflicting Christian/Pagan rituals - Pagans who need to celebrate with Christian families - have a secret all to themselves.
As you know Paganism predates Christianity. So, whether you believe in Jesus or not, Christmas - Yule - is a time for celebrating the winter solstice.
In fact, Pope Gregory I while on his way to work among the Anglo-Saxons, suggested that converting heathens is easier if they are allowed to retain the outward forms of their traditional pagan practices and traditions, while recasting those traditions spiritually towards the one true God instead of to their pagan gods. The Pope sanctioned such conversion tactics as Biblically acceptable, pointing out that God did much the same thing with the ancient Israelites and their pagan sacrifices.
Yule & Yuletide = archaic terms for Christmas
The word “Yule” originated from the Anglo-Saxon word Geol, and is celebrated with a meal and giving of gifts
The name Jol = a term predating the word “helle” which means light, turns into the word Noel
A Christian tradition for eating ham comes from the slaughtering of a pig in sacrifice of the god Freyr
Pagan customs adopted by Christians:
A decorated evergreen tree in the home with offerings to the gods and goddesses
Evergreen wreaths hanging on doors
Boughs of holly strung around the house
Mistletoe hanging over doorways
Singing and dancing (singing Christmas carols – Yuletide carols - by the way, is fun. There are many to sing without singing about the Christian God. And even so, you know you are singing to your gods/goddesses even if those around you do not)
Eating
Giving gifts to those we love
So gather with those you love, both Christian and Pagan, and enjoy the season!
As you know Paganism predates Christianity. So, whether you believe in Jesus or not, Christmas - Yule - is a time for celebrating the winter solstice.
In fact, Pope Gregory I while on his way to work among the Anglo-Saxons, suggested that converting heathens is easier if they are allowed to retain the outward forms of their traditional pagan practices and traditions, while recasting those traditions spiritually towards the one true God instead of to their pagan gods. The Pope sanctioned such conversion tactics as Biblically acceptable, pointing out that God did much the same thing with the ancient Israelites and their pagan sacrifices.
Yule & Yuletide = archaic terms for Christmas
The word “Yule” originated from the Anglo-Saxon word Geol, and is celebrated with a meal and giving of gifts
The name Jol = a term predating the word “helle” which means light, turns into the word Noel
A Christian tradition for eating ham comes from the slaughtering of a pig in sacrifice of the god Freyr
Pagan customs adopted by Christians:
A decorated evergreen tree in the home with offerings to the gods and goddesses
Evergreen wreaths hanging on doors
Boughs of holly strung around the house
Mistletoe hanging over doorways
Singing and dancing (singing Christmas carols – Yuletide carols - by the way, is fun. There are many to sing without singing about the Christian God. And even so, you know you are singing to your gods/goddesses even if those around you do not)
Eating
Giving gifts to those we love
So gather with those you love, both Christian and Pagan, and enjoy the season!
