Yuletide/Winter Solstice/Christmas Origins
HAPPY YULE EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yule is also known in the Christian tradition as, Christmas! So those that celebrate that.... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! It is now the longest night in this hemisphere. For me, I am pagan, so I celebrate Yule. Which is basically Christmas!
The origins of Christmas is stemmed in pagan traditions. Like kissing under the mistletoe or putting up a tree filled with lights. Why do you put lights in a tree? Because you don't believe in fire code! Ba da tiss. I'm only kidding. Bad Dad joke, I know, but there is a reason that we don't think of fire code during this time. And I will discuss that in a minute.
There are so many reasons, so let's start with Yule. In general, Yule is mainly a Nordic tradition. Yule typically lasts for 12 days. During this time it was to be the wild hunt for the Norse god, Odin. This is where you get the 12 days of Christmas. Sound familiar!?
For Yule, in other Pagan traditions, the Oak King and the Holy King trade places. With the longest night of winter here the young Oak King, begins his ascent from Yule to Midsummer. This is in Celtic/Wiccan traditions.
But, back to the tree! With the evergreen tree being cut down, lights and baubles now adorn it. This is to represent life still in winter. Pines, acorn, evergreen trees are for that rebirth of the sun after the longest night. And let's not forget the 25th of December!
For Christians this is the birth of Christ. (Even though he was born during the Roman census, which is during the summer times, and no date exists in the bible.) For the Romans it was Saturnalia. This was the Sun Gods birthday! This is where you get gift giving and feasting! In Rome you would gamble, drink, eat, be merry, then give gifts. This was a time of joy and celebration. I mean the Sun God is how old now?!
In Ancient Egypt it was a celebration for the rebirth of Horus. And that lasted 12 days too! Coincidence? I think not! The Romans' picked up a similar celebration!
For Christians, when Emperor Constantine decided to make the main religion of Rome to be Christian, what better way to make conversion easy. Put Christian context on all things pagan. It was a way to peacefully convert them to Christianity. Well, until the Roman Empire fell and became the Holy Roman Empire, then you get a lot of blood shed. But we won't go into that now, because it's depressing.
So now-a-days, both traditions are almost one and the same, because they have become so intermixed with each other. Yule/Christmas is still a time of joy, love, and light in the world. Whether you are Christian OR Pagan. Those same traditions and ideals match. The preservation of the sun continuing on its journey to bring happiness and light to the Earth.
I mean, we all need a little sun from time to time. It's best to honor our bright star! Because, with out it, this planet would be dead.
There are sooo many different traditions in this time of the year, but I wanted to express my Pagan roots for this post. What traditions do you follow? And what do you love about Yule/Christmas time? What similarities have you found in the cross over?
I can keep going and going. So, below is links to more information on Yule traditions and their Origins. And some ways to express your own love and light to the Sun and Earth!
Scarlet Ravenswood: Pagan Origins of Christmas
Scarlet Ravenswood: Secret Symbolism of Santa
Scarlet Ravenswood: How to make a Yule Altar
The Goddess & The Green Man: Yule
Wikipedia Definition of Yule
Yule Traditions & Symbols
Yule Pagan Rituals
National Geographic: Winter Solstice in Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Solstice
Story of Isis
The origins of Christmas is stemmed in pagan traditions. Like kissing under the mistletoe or putting up a tree filled with lights. Why do you put lights in a tree? Because you don't believe in fire code! Ba da tiss. I'm only kidding. Bad Dad joke, I know, but there is a reason that we don't think of fire code during this time. And I will discuss that in a minute.
There are so many reasons, so let's start with Yule. In general, Yule is mainly a Nordic tradition. Yule typically lasts for 12 days. During this time it was to be the wild hunt for the Norse god, Odin. This is where you get the 12 days of Christmas. Sound familiar!?For Yule, in other Pagan traditions, the Oak King and the Holy King trade places. With the longest night of winter here the young Oak King, begins his ascent from Yule to Midsummer. This is in Celtic/Wiccan traditions.
But, back to the tree! With the evergreen tree being cut down, lights and baubles now adorn it. This is to represent life still in winter. Pines, acorn, evergreen trees are for that rebirth of the sun after the longest night. And let's not forget the 25th of December!
For Christians this is the birth of Christ. (Even though he was born during the Roman census, which is during the summer times, and no date exists in the bible.) For the Romans it was Saturnalia. This was the Sun Gods birthday! This is where you get gift giving and feasting! In Rome you would gamble, drink, eat, be merry, then give gifts. This was a time of joy and celebration. I mean the Sun God is how old now?!
In Ancient Egypt it was a celebration for the rebirth of Horus. And that lasted 12 days too! Coincidence? I think not! The Romans' picked up a similar celebration!
For Christians, when Emperor Constantine decided to make the main religion of Rome to be Christian, what better way to make conversion easy. Put Christian context on all things pagan. It was a way to peacefully convert them to Christianity. Well, until the Roman Empire fell and became the Holy Roman Empire, then you get a lot of blood shed. But we won't go into that now, because it's depressing.
So now-a-days, both traditions are almost one and the same, because they have become so intermixed with each other. Yule/Christmas is still a time of joy, love, and light in the world. Whether you are Christian OR Pagan. Those same traditions and ideals match. The preservation of the sun continuing on its journey to bring happiness and light to the Earth.
I mean, we all need a little sun from time to time. It's best to honor our bright star! Because, with out it, this planet would be dead.
There are sooo many different traditions in this time of the year, but I wanted to express my Pagan roots for this post. What traditions do you follow? And what do you love about Yule/Christmas time? What similarities have you found in the cross over?
I can keep going and going. So, below is links to more information on Yule traditions and their Origins. And some ways to express your own love and light to the Sun and Earth!
Scarlet Ravenswood: Pagan Origins of Christmas
Scarlet Ravenswood: Secret Symbolism of Santa
Scarlet Ravenswood: How to make a Yule Altar
The Goddess & The Green Man: Yule
Wikipedia Definition of Yule
Yule Traditions & Symbols
Yule Pagan Rituals
National Geographic: Winter Solstice in Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Solstice
Story of Isis
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