pyroguysr's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solstice 08 Happy tidings on this Solstice and Bon Yule to all my friends in the Pagan Traditions. Happy Hanukkah to those of the Jewish Faith. Last night was my first Solstice celebrating with a loosely organized group I know as my Grove. We exchanged gifts, went through a ritual, discussed Solstice and the varying traditions ensuing within, then sacrificed a beasty (in this case it was a pig butt... otherwise known as a ham) and began to party. It wound down about 1 am and we all went home. For those of alternate religions, it is the harkening of the new year. The days now grow longer and Lugh, the Celtic Sun-God, revives. It has been said that early Christians moved the celebration of the birth of Christ to this date to avoid persecution at the hands of the Romans. This was because of their tradition of gift-giving ala the Three Wise Men. Since Saturnalia was celebrated at this time of the year, it became prudent to have their celebration then as well to avoid "standing out." Scientifically through animal husbandry, and therefore logically, we know that Christ could not have been born in December because "lambing" is not done in the winter, nor would shepherds be out tending to the lambing or their flocks in the middle of winter, but would happen sometime in March or April. Historical records of the census of that time also show that it would have been conducted either in the summer or fall months, not in the middle of winter. But the tradition is a happy one in such a dark time of the year and long-established ritual is a difficult thing to disembrace. Many "Pagan" or Northern European Celtic traditions have been adopted into the season's traditons. The yule log, the Christmas Tree, the Midnight Mass, bonfires, the Christmas Feast... But religions have "borrowed" from one another since time immemorial. There is no reason to get possessive about any of them. There IS every reason to celebrate the traditions so that they bring comfort and joy to our hearts while gathering friends and family closer together so that we may revel in the antics of the young and refresh our memories of those that have passed on. To my friends of all faiths, may the coming year find you with a smile on your face, love in your heart and a warm fire in your hearth! 11:41 a.m. - 2008-12-21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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