Yule, twelve nights and winter solstice for Pagans

dolly_day_dream

I would just like to add my two happenyworth - there used to be a celebration that started on 25th December, people gave SMALL gifts to each other (usually of money), greenery was brought into the house and hung with shiney objects, it lasted for 12 days - it was called Saturnalia and was celebrated by the Ancient Romans. Our origins of Boxing day go back that far as well because that was day that the clay 'boxes' the slaves had made for saving in all year were broken open and used to pay for their celebration.

For thousands of years people have celebrated at this time of year to reassure themselves that things will get better from the dark days of winter. Call your celebration whatever you want. At school I am busy getting ready for Christmas but at home we have different names. I am not sure what you call it matters. Attach any significance you want to your celebration but from my understanding ALL of the celebrations were about renewal, peace and harmony.

It is a shame that the thread has taken such an acrimonious turn because working together we could have helped each other with ideas for environmentally friendly decorating.

I have a real tree and decorate the house with greenery I have brought in from the garden. I am lucky in that I have holly, ivy and conifers available. When the celebration is over it all goes into the compost heap. This year I will be wrapping a lot of my presents in re-usuable fabric bags and I have tried (as much as possible) to make/recycle presents this year. I try to source all of my food from Great Britain but have fond memories of the geography lesson that would accompany the making of the Christmas Cake/pudding finding out where all the different ingredients came from.

Peace to all Dolly Day Dream

Janey51

I am a pagan and I respect any other person's beliefs, even if I don't understand them sometimes!
My son and daughter in law are born again Christians. Every year they come to us for Yule/Christmas and often bring friends to stay (who we have never seen before).
Last year we had 9 visitors, including a S African, 2 Australians and a couple of New Zealanders. We ate too much, laughed most of the time and learnt a lot about each other.
And thats what its all about really isn't it? Welcoming everyone into the warmth of a family home and looking after each other whatever our beliefs.
Now..I'm off to sort out the catering arrangements for the next contingent from the UN who'll be landing shortly!

Elixir

scotlass99 wrote:

hmm..so far no pagans have replied........oh well...!!!

Hey, Iv only just found this thread!
Hi Amos, Im `ere.

I for one will be doing the usual visiting the family on the 25th, yawn yawn.

But for myself; my yule log will be onto top of the hearth, with 3 black candles in it. (You burn them down then light a yellow one on the solstice-the symbolism is obvious). Its the same log Iv used for about 11 years.

I picked up some pine cones yesterday while out jogging, they look great on my hearth now too.

On the 21st, I will be up before sunrise to trapse down the woods to watch the sun come up. (That has to be THE hardest thing about this flippin` religion- getting out of ya warm bed at dark)

Anyway, none of this costs, talk about moneysaving!

Elixir

I take back the moneysaving bit, I just spotted a willow besom thats been dipped in cinnamon oil for £13.99.

I just had to have it!!

emmaBZ

well i guess some would say im an athiest ? i do not believe in god or religion of any concept ( i dont wish to offend anyone ) ....i accept everyone has thier own beliefs and thats completley up to them...as long as no body tries to force thier beliefs onto anyone else thats fine.....but in saying that I LOOOOVVVVEE XMAS....... what i love is the magical feeling the kids get.;) ....and being all together for the holidays....as a family...:p i also believe people should live there lives to the limit and be happy in what they choose to do..........:p

bluemoon_3

emmaBZ wrote:

what i love is the magical feeling the kids get.;)

And the BIG kids (like me)! :rotfl: I'm sure I'm not the only one.

freebie_junkie

lindadykes wrote:

On a slightly different note can I just congratulate freebie_junkie for the honesty about dyslexia, and the courage I know it takes to commit yourself to text in public - my brother has dyslexia and I am a teacher of Special Education Needs, so I know how difficult it can be to come to terms with this and become comfortable writing in a public arena.

thanks very much

MrsTinks

And can I just hop in... and say be nice to everyone please I don't want to have to call in the Forum team

I doubt Amos's forst post was ever meant to be offensive to anyone to be honest, but it wasn't my post and I can't speak on the behalf of others.
However it is nearly yule/christmas/saturnalia and frankly regardless of who had the idea first (I'm pagan so OFCOURSE I'm gonna claim it was rudely stolen from us! :rotfl:) then I think we should all be able to relax and stop bickering. So long as no-one tries to force their view on others then there should be room for everyone

Now - moneysaving ideas for pagan celebrations for the winter solstice please or I shall banish this thread to the Moneysavers Arms

Tine

lindadykes

Well said tine. As someone working full time and also looking after a family, for me it is time that is tight rather than money, (Though for many years my circumstances were not as favourable as now and then money was the main problem.) I have not always been pagan, though two of my children have taken a mainly pagan way of life, the other two are sort of undecided. When my children were young I was not a pagan and although I believed in God I was sort of searching for my beliefs in life. Perhaps suprisingly it was the interest of my eldest daughter in paganism that sparked my own research. I found I had "come home". since then I still tend to celebrate "christmas" on the 25th December, that is to say that is when we open our gifts to each other and have traditinal christmas dinner. But increasingly as my children grow older I have conciously tried to veer toward celebrating the solstice on 21st Dec.

Most years lately I have been off work an the 21st, and I rise eaarly befor dawn and make my way to a high vantage point where I can watch the rebirth of the sun (dawn!). My DH accompanies me when he can, though he regards himself as an atheist. As he says he can still celebrate the turning of the seasons. This year I will be at work on the 21st, but my holidays begin on the 22nd and I intend, weather permitting, to drive to Castlerigg stone cirlcle on the 22nd for sunrise. I want to spend the rest of the day contemplating nature and culminate in a special meal for my family. I still intend to reserve Dec 25th as a day for opening pressies and a celebrationary meal, though for me this is a means of giving thanks for the rebirth of light.

JAMIEDODGER

isnt it great the different ways we all celebrate this time of year?

this years moneysaving yule will be spent taking my dd and ds1&2 for a walk through the local park collecting pine cones.then i am cooking a meal for us in the evening when ds3 comes home from special needs playscheme. i have a small gift i have made to give each of the children.

i have tried wherever possible this year to give gifts that i have made or got free or reduced while bearing each recipients needs/likes in mind.

i will be having a real tree this year and just decorating it in white lights which i already have:)

christmas day itself will be a time to catch up with family and give gifts although we dont have a traditional christmas dinner (pizza again this year) this for me is a day which is special for the children and for me a celebration of the light of the coming year.

come back please amos and tell us some of your moneysaving ideas to celebrate our pagan festival:)