Pagan and Christian Holidays
Pagan and Christian Holidays
Pagans and Christianity have been at each other for centuries. Paganism is a religion of nature. Pagans see the divine as a whole in life and universe. Pagans live according to the cycles of Nature, the seasons, life and death.[12] Christians believe that God created the universe. Believing Him as the Father Almighty, the son and the holy spirit.[7] Pagan Holidays, also known as Sabbats, occur during the Wheel of the Year. This represents the belief that life is eternal and constantly changing. Christian Holidays occur from the Roman calendar.[5] The dates of these two religions’ holidays are almost exact and this will be explained. Now, Christianity is not any better or worse than Paganism. Even though Christians got their holidays from Pagan Sabbats, we all have our own beliefs and celebrate in our own way.
Yule, a Pagan holiday, is celebrated around December 21-23. It is a time where the Goddess gives birth to the Divine Sun. He shall be both child and lover and father of the next child in the continuing cycle.[3] Christian religions modified this time of year as Christmas, celebrated on December 25th. Even the birth of the child, Jesus. For Pagans and Christians alike, it is a time of feasting and exchanging of gifts.[3] The symbols of this time of year are one in topping of the Yule trees with the Triple Moon (which symbolizes the Maiden, Mother, and Crone) or the pentagram (symbolizing the elements of nature and spirit).[1] After the Christianization of Yule, the star topping the tree was to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem and the Roman Catholics displayed angels symbols of the messengers atop the evergreen tree. Bells and food were hung and candles were lit for Spirits to join in the celebrations. The Yule log is an old tradition for Pagans where they would carve a circle with horns to represent the horned god, like Reindeer horns, and then set it on fire using a piece of last year’s Yule log. This
Pagans and Christianity have been at each other for centuries. Paganism is a religion of nature. Pagans see the divine as a whole in life and universe. Pagans live according to the cycles of Nature, the seasons, life and death.[12] Christians believe that God created the universe. Believing Him as the Father Almighty, the son and the holy spirit.[7] Pagan Holidays, also known as Sabbats, occur during the Wheel of the Year. This represents the belief that life is eternal and constantly changing. Christian Holidays occur from the Roman calendar.[5] The dates of these two religions’ holidays are almost exact and this will be explained. Now, Christianity is not any better or worse than Paganism. Even though Christians got their holidays from Pagan Sabbats, we all have our own beliefs and celebrate in our own way.
Yule, a Pagan holiday, is celebrated around December 21-23. It is a time where the Goddess gives birth to the Divine Sun. He shall be both child and lover and father of the next child in the continuing cycle.[3] Christian religions modified this time of year as Christmas, celebrated on December 25th. Even the birth of the child, Jesus. For Pagans and Christians alike, it is a time of feasting and exchanging of gifts.[3] The symbols of this time of year are one in topping of the Yule trees with the Triple Moon (which symbolizes the Maiden, Mother, and Crone) or the pentagram (symbolizing the elements of nature and spirit).[1] After the Christianization of Yule, the star topping the tree was to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem and the Roman Catholics displayed angels symbols of the messengers atop the evergreen tree. Bells and food were hung and candles were lit for Spirits to join in the celebrations. The Yule log is an old tradition for Pagans where they would carve a circle with horns to represent the horned god, like Reindeer horns, and then set it on fire using a piece of last year’s Yule log. This