the birth of the sun god, not the son of god? what if we went back to solstice being the reason for the season?
what if we had big dinners with family and light a yule log? what if we decorated trees with ribbons and shiny things? what if we kissed under mistletoe and hung wreaths on our doors? you know, all of those pagan customs! oh wait, we already do those
so how would you feel if "christmas" went back to it's roots?
and yes, you can still give and get presents!
2007-11-29 06:01:27 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
angel of music - how is the pagan celebration BAD??????
2007-11-29 06:11:23 · update #1
caliguy- you may want to take a history course
2007-11-29 06:13:34 · update #2
Fair play, whatever. For me its about family and food.
2007-11-29 06:04:40 · answer #1 · answered by Link strikes back 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you want to see a country that really goes all out for Christmas, you need to go to Singapore. Folks out in fur suits with fake snow, while both the temperature and the humidity are racing to 100.
Most Singaporeans are not Christian. They just like the holiday. Of course, Singapore is possibly the most commercial city on the planet, so maybe they really have found the current "spirit of Christmas".
Considering that most Christians already realize that Jesus was probably not born around the Winter solstice, (shepherds did not normally keep their flocks out at night in the winter - too cold) my thought is that you should celebrate whatever you want. A holiday means what you choose to have it mean.
Personally, between the current spirit of commercialism and Pagans celebrating nature, family and friends, I think that the Pagan celebration is far more Christian.
Somehow, getting into the Christmas spirit by lining up at Best Buy at 5AM seems to miss the whole point.
Regardless, celebrate the returning of the sun if you wish. I may even tip a glass in your direction, with thanks for the idea of a holiday around this time of year. The days have gotten all too short for my taste, and any excuse for a celebration seems like a good thing.
2007-11-29 19:24:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Angel of Music pretty much summed it up. They would ignore the fact that all of the traditions of their Christmas are in fact Pagan (and not bad - geez.... if everything Pagan is bad, then you need to change EVERYTHING about life).
The Christians in my family know exactly what Yule is about. They come to my house for Yule and I go to my parents house Christmas Eve (Christmas is our lazy day). I don't involve Christians in any ritual, but we do talk about where all the traditions come from and why Christians celebrate them now. And, honestly, only the people online get upset when you tell them that it's Pagan. All of the Christians I know offline, accept it without getting angry.
By the way... Merry Yule!!! =)
2007-11-29 14:33:22 · answer #3 · answered by River 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'll take the Mistletoe, please.
I celebrate Christmas my own way, most of it involves arguing with my parents over my choice of Atheism. It's a fun way to end a year.
2007-11-29 14:18:00 · answer #4 · answered by The Return Of Sexy Thor 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Hehehe, oh, i SOOO wish this would really happen...
Imagine:
All the christmas practices were suddenly given their original meaning. Heh, pass the popcorn, let's sit back and watch the fundies be horrified..
2007-11-30 03:46:40 · answer #5 · answered by Ymmo the Heathen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cali guy^ you are insane. Christmas was meant to cover up Saturnalia in Rome. Get your facts straight.
Riegan, do you ever find it ironic that in Christian churches, we sing that song that goes "Now we sing a yuletide carol" I can't remember the name at the moment! (T_T)
So I don't have a problem. I can celebrate Jesus. You can have the holiday mean what you want.
EDIT:
I STILL can't think of the name of the dang song......
2007-11-29 14:13:01 · answer #6 · answered by Princess Ninja 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Is this celebration being forced upon me and my family? Or am I free to continue to celebrate the holiday that I grew up with?
2007-11-29 14:06:10 · answer #7 · answered by Damaris 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
wow. suddenly it all seems so clear. is it not obvious that the church's desperate attempts to mask pagans as evil and cover the roots of all things right? i thought it was, but i guess not.
)o(
2007-11-29 20:19:37 · answer #8 · answered by Pluto VT 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My family celebrates both, so no problems for me and mine. :-) My younger brother was even born on Dec. 22nd which is sometimes the winter solstice, he likes to point that out, haha.
2007-11-29 14:08:13 · answer #9 · answered by Megs 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Io Saturnalia!!!!
It would be a very different world. I really wish that the people who need to do this thought exercise, would, so they can learn something about empathy.
2007-11-29 16:29:16 · answer #10 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That would be wonderful...a time when family and friends came first...not a bunch of stores trying to convince us we NEED their crap!
Of course, would you want the sacrifice performed to ensure the rising of the sun?
2007-11-29 14:34:31 · answer #11 · answered by Blue Oyster Kel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋