Pagan rituals or traditions for this time of year...?

Question

I am looking for some pagan rituals or traditions for this time of year. We still do the Santa Claus thing with my kids but they are quickly growing out of it and I wanted to start traditions, which go along more with our beliefs that are more spiritual pagan belief.

I feel very hypocritical following the Christmas tradition seeing as I don't believe what they do.

Any suggestions?

Yes I know Christianity has Pagan roots. But, Dare I say, I don't believe Jesus is the Son of God, which is what Christmas is all about. So I am looking for other traditions so I won't be a hypocrite.

Great stuff everyone ...Please keep it coming !

Answer 1

Probably the best comment I can give you is to look at what is going on in Nature at this time of the year. December 22nd is the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere this year. It is the shortest day of the year and the beginning of Winter. It is considered the middle of the "dark" half of the year where we stay inside and reflect upon our lives. In Earth based religions it is seen as the time of the rebirth of the Sun. the part of the birth-death-rebirth cycle that deals with our own rebirths into this world. We can now look forward to our days getting longer. Common pagan symbols (that have been adopted by Christianity) are the lighted pine tree for this shows that the light is reborn of a tree that doesn't die, and the wreath of green that represents the cycle of life that doesn't end. As others have mentioned, a Yule log with 3 candles (again birth-death-rebirth) is a common pagan symbol of this time of the year.

If you are following a Norse tradition then having some form of pork dinner is a common theme as a pig was usually roasted in honor of Odin on the Winter Solstice.

If you are following more of a Celtic tradition then you may want to research the Oak King / Holly King battle at this time of the year.

Best wishes for whatever you decide to do.
Blessed Be )O(

Answer 2

I celebrate Yule which is the most holy of the Norse holidays. I celebrate the start of winter and the end of the Wild Hunt, which comes to a close around New Year's or so. It lasts for 12 days and the first is called Mother Night, when all the female ancestors and the Goddesses are honored. Then everynight afterwards I make an offering to Odin, and I also do a faining to Skadi who is the Goddess of winter. I don't do the Yule log thing since I don't have a fireplace, nor do I do the tree thing since I have pets that would love nothing more than to get all into it (ferrets + Yule tree ornaments = not a pretty sight). But I do eat a lot LOL.

Answer 3

Yule log is always fun. I lite it and let the kids stay up as long as they can, which they are young so it doesnt take long. My daughter and I make hot choclate and watch the sun come up on the solstice. My kids are still young so I have Santa.
Some of my best traditions have nothing to do with religion. The kids always get a brand new pair of jammies they open on xmas eve to wake up in. The tree always, ALWAYS goes up the day after Thanksgiving. We always make at least one drive around the closer neighborhoods to look at lights. I keep eggnog in the house until they stop selling it. THESE are the things my kids are going to remember and pass on to thier kids.

Answer 4

Burning the Yule log. Decorating a Yule tree. Re-enacting the battle between the Holly and Oak Kings. Once you research the origin and symbolism of Yule, you might be able to come up with some of your own as well.

Answer 5

we celebrate yule and christmas in our house. at yule, we have an intimate family dinner and small ritual. part of the ritual includes the kids running around the house turning off all the lights to signify the dark time. then, we light 3 candles on the ice cream yule log and welcome back the sun. then, the kids hoot and holler as the run through the house turning on every single light. when we've finished our dinner, they turn the un needed lights back off, then we eat ice cream yule log! mmmmmm

(we use an ice cream yule log because we don't have a fire place and it tastes better!)

we also go to ritual with our multi faith pagan group

at christmas we meet with extended family and give gifts. the kids look forward to each celebration equally, even though we don't give gifts at yule

edit: my kids are 9, 12, 15

Answer 6

Two traditional Carols -

Both HEAVY with Yule references, no mention of Christmas or anything remotely Chruistian.

1) Deck the Halls

2) Here we come a-Wasailing

Answer 7

Maybe my question will help you w/ some ideas for Yule activites to do w/ the kids. Ignore Bunny. She's a fundy troll. We also set up an alter for each season. There are 4 of us. My husband is fire, I'm water, my son is earth and my daughter is air. So each person gets to put an item on the alter that represents their element.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoTZBoYlU7wnsxIJqRPHC.rsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071125112311AACjWqf

Answer 8

Have you heard of Yule? although im just learning about paganism myself, i did find this link about Yule on wikipedia, which is similar to christmas, i hope that helps ya!

Answer 9

We plan on burning a Yule log. We also plan on exchanging solstice gifts.

Wish I could be of more help but this is our first year celebrating so we are still figuring things out ourselves.

Answer 10

No, Christmas was not Christian to be begin with, but is a product of Roman Catholicism's attempt to appease pagan "converts" with a "Christianized" version of Saturnalia.

God does not need help from distinctly pagan elements, and the Bible does not support Christianizing of such, but God makes a new creation (2Cor. 5:17).
http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=17759.15

But it sounds like what you need is birth yourself, that of being g born again of the Spirit of God by genuine repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. And He is most assuredly the Divine Son of God: http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/DEITYofCHRIST.html

Here are some examples of those who found Jesus, and may you do the same!

http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing /
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4136610474021109864
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3682855866783766146
http://www.truthsaves.org/testimony/
http://www.crosssearch.com/People/Personal_Christian_Homepages/Topical/Testimonies/
http://www.christian-faith.com/truestories.html
http://www.truthsaves.org/testimony/
http://www.shelovesgod.com/library/testimonies.cfm
http://breadsite.org/topics.htm