All other winter holiday's
- Thread starter runamuk
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Farmhand
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As long as it's a PAID DAY OFF, I'll celebraterunamuk said:
rabbitsfizz
Well-Known Member
Well....Jesus stands as a universal symbol of Peacer- I'll go for that
runamuk
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did some research and found some more obscure winter/solstice celebrations........I think a few of these should be revived
this one has definate intrigue...and I believe it would involve lots of "feasting"
The winter solstice ritual was called Lenaea, the Festival of the Wild Women. In very ancient times, a man representing the harvest god Dionysos was torn to pieces and eaten by a gang of women on this day. Later in the ritual, Dionysos would be reborn as a baby. By classical times, the human sacrifice had been replaced by the killing of a goat. The women's role had changed to that of funeral mourners and observers of the birth.
Bhuddists
On DEC-8, or on the Sunday immediately preceding, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Rohatsu). It recalls the day in 596 BCE, when the Buddha achieved enlightenment. He had left his family and possessions behind at the age of 29, and sought the meaning of life -- particularly the reasons for its hardships. He studied under many spiritual teachers without success. Finally, he sat under a pipal tree and vowed that he would stay there until he found what he was seeking. On the morning of the eighth day, he realized that everyone suffers due to ignorance. But ignorance can be overcome through the Eightfold Path that he advocated. This day is generally regarded as the birth day of Buddhism. Being an Eastern tradition, Bodhi Day has none of the associations with the solstice and seasonal changes found in other religious observances at this time of year. However, it does signify the point in time when the Buddha achieved enlightenment and escaped the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth through reincarnation -- themes that are observed in other religions in December.
nifty factoid......already knew this but thought I'd share
Any record of the date of birth of Yeshua of Nazareth (later known as Jesus Christ) has been lost. There is sufficient evidence in the Gospels to indicate that Yeshua was born in the fall, but this seems to have been unknown to early Christians. By the beginning of the 4th century CE, there was intense interest in choosing a day to celebrate Yeshua's birthday. The western church leaders selected DEC-25 because this was already the date recognized throughout the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Since there was no central Christian authority at the time, it took centuries before the tradition was universally accepted
wow where is the tolerance
Many symbols and practices associated with Christmas are of Pagan origin: holly, ivy, mistletoe, yule log, the giving of gifts, decorated evergreen tree, magical reindeer, etc. Polydor Virgil, an early British Christian, said "Dancing, masques, mummeries, stageplays, and other such Christmas disorders now in use with Christians, were derived from these Roman Saturnalian and Bacchanalian festivals; which should cause all pious Christians eternally to abominate them." In Massachusetts, Puritans unsuccessfully tried to ban Christmas entirely during the 17th century, because of its heathenism.
OK this is just kinda cool...
Vampyres celebrate "the Long Night," a festival at the Winter Solstice. Many groups of vampyres gather together at this time to celebrate. "It is a festival of community where everyone relaxes and socializes. It is also the traditional night to recognize new members of the community or a coven, or to perform rites of passage."
general winter solstice info
There has always been a major celebration at the time of the winter solstice. This was a very old practice in many societies. The ancients looked forward to the coming of spring and so many years before Jesus was born, many religious groups would have Festivals connected with fertility and sun worship.
It was not a new idea when Christians decided to hold a major religious celebration in this season to highlight the birth of a god and the beginning of salvation.
Many primitive people had thought that the sun was their source of light and life, and they therefore worshipped the sun.
The Persians, for example, worshipped Mithra, their god of light. At this season they had great feasts to show their reverence to the sun, and they lit great fires to honor Mithra.
The Romans also honored and worshipped Saturn, their god of agriculture, and called this winter season of celebration Saturnalia. This stretched from the middle of December to the beginning of January.
Features of these celebrations were excessive eating, drinking, sport, gambling, visiting, and exchanging gifts. Masked revelers went up and down the streets indulging in excess and riotous celebrating.
In Europe, the pagan tribes also celebrated and honored their 'All-Father' Odin. By their bonfires they consumed large quantities of food and drink during the Yuletide season, the rebirth of the sun.
this one has definate intrigue...and I believe it would involve lots of "feasting"
The winter solstice ritual was called Lenaea, the Festival of the Wild Women. In very ancient times, a man representing the harvest god Dionysos was torn to pieces and eaten by a gang of women on this day. Later in the ritual, Dionysos would be reborn as a baby. By classical times, the human sacrifice had been replaced by the killing of a goat. The women's role had changed to that of funeral mourners and observers of the birth.
Bhuddists
On DEC-8, or on the Sunday immediately preceding, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Rohatsu). It recalls the day in 596 BCE, when the Buddha achieved enlightenment. He had left his family and possessions behind at the age of 29, and sought the meaning of life -- particularly the reasons for its hardships. He studied under many spiritual teachers without success. Finally, he sat under a pipal tree and vowed that he would stay there until he found what he was seeking. On the morning of the eighth day, he realized that everyone suffers due to ignorance. But ignorance can be overcome through the Eightfold Path that he advocated. This day is generally regarded as the birth day of Buddhism. Being an Eastern tradition, Bodhi Day has none of the associations with the solstice and seasonal changes found in other religious observances at this time of year. However, it does signify the point in time when the Buddha achieved enlightenment and escaped the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth through reincarnation -- themes that are observed in other religions in December.
nifty factoid......already knew this but thought I'd share
Any record of the date of birth of Yeshua of Nazareth (later known as Jesus Christ) has been lost. There is sufficient evidence in the Gospels to indicate that Yeshua was born in the fall, but this seems to have been unknown to early Christians. By the beginning of the 4th century CE, there was intense interest in choosing a day to celebrate Yeshua's birthday. The western church leaders selected DEC-25 because this was already the date recognized throughout the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Since there was no central Christian authority at the time, it took centuries before the tradition was universally accepted
wow where is the tolerance
Many symbols and practices associated with Christmas are of Pagan origin: holly, ivy, mistletoe, yule log, the giving of gifts, decorated evergreen tree, magical reindeer, etc. Polydor Virgil, an early British Christian, said "Dancing, masques, mummeries, stageplays, and other such Christmas disorders now in use with Christians, were derived from these Roman Saturnalian and Bacchanalian festivals; which should cause all pious Christians eternally to abominate them." In Massachusetts, Puritans unsuccessfully tried to ban Christmas entirely during the 17th century, because of its heathenism.
OK this is just kinda cool...
Vampyres celebrate "the Long Night," a festival at the Winter Solstice. Many groups of vampyres gather together at this time to celebrate. "It is a festival of community where everyone relaxes and socializes. It is also the traditional night to recognize new members of the community or a coven, or to perform rites of passage."
general winter solstice info
There has always been a major celebration at the time of the winter solstice. This was a very old practice in many societies. The ancients looked forward to the coming of spring and so many years before Jesus was born, many religious groups would have Festivals connected with fertility and sun worship.
It was not a new idea when Christians decided to hold a major religious celebration in this season to highlight the birth of a god and the beginning of salvation.
Many primitive people had thought that the sun was their source of light and life, and they therefore worshipped the sun.
The Persians, for example, worshipped Mithra, their god of light. At this season they had great feasts to show their reverence to the sun, and they lit great fires to honor Mithra.
The Romans also honored and worshipped Saturn, their god of agriculture, and called this winter season of celebration Saturnalia. This stretched from the middle of December to the beginning of January.
Features of these celebrations were excessive eating, drinking, sport, gambling, visiting, and exchanging gifts. Masked revelers went up and down the streets indulging in excess and riotous celebrating.
In Europe, the pagan tribes also celebrated and honored their 'All-Father' Odin. By their bonfires they consumed large quantities of food and drink during the Yuletide season, the rebirth of the sun.
