squirrelboy's Blog

I am ready for them to be over. I am tired of the endless crowds, the endless holiday specials, the endless commercials and in general the political correctness.

I consider myself to be a Pagan (duck, here come the torches!) and I am not offended by Christmas. I only say that because a majority of the Christmas themes comes very ancient traditions.

In case you are wondering which ones, here a few that I have found out on the web:

Evergreens are symbolic of enduring and renewed life, which is why decorate our homes with them at Christmastime. The fetching in of green branches is a magical rite to ensure the return of vegetation at winter's end. Our modern day Christmas tree is the centerpiece of this belief.

Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means “wheel,” the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Hollyberries were thought to be a food of the gods.

In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them.

The Christmas wreath is another pagan symbol adopted by Christianity. The Wheel of the Year is often symbolised by the wreath. Its circle has no beginning and no end, illustrating that everything in its time comes back to its point of origin, to repeat the cycle over and over. Scandinavians began the tradition of hanging the wreath at Yule, the beginning of their new year, to commemorate new beginnings in the cycle of life.

So, over this holiday season, give some thought as to where these traditions began and celebrate in your own way. :)