I would like the season a whole lot more if we just accepted it for what it really is: a pagan celebration of Winter Solstice. And that’s today, December 21, the shortest day of the year. Yay! The early church certainly believed that Winter Solstice was a pagan observance, which is why they tranformed the Roman holiday of Saturnalia into the Mass of Christ. And that’s what the Puritans believed, who banned every kind of Christmas festivity as pagan or popish (that is, Catholic). Most readers know that the current fetish over Santa, toys, and good cheer is a Victorian-era invention.
The “Mass of Christ” is clearly a Christian holy day. But the *season* of Christmas as it is currently celebrated is completely pagan. Not just any pagan: Northern European pagan, with snow, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, reindeer, and dark starry nights. I write this having moved to a northern climate, where wonderful seasonal lights line the downtown streets. Some of our neighbors have sparkly lights enlivening their houses on these evenings when it gets dark at 4:30. But none of this is particularly Christian, no matter how festive. Today is Yule, the pagan celebration of light (December 21) when the Sun is reborn and the days begin to lengthen. So let’s go all out for Yule—candles, gifts, singing, perhaps a little drinking—and let’s return the Mass of Christ to the churches, where it truly belongs.
Foofie
12/21/2015 07:41:28 pm
Becky, I'm keeping this. It's the most succinct history of the "season". Thank you! Foofie
Rebecca Moore
1/4/2016 06:39:42 pm
Hi Foofie, Thanks for the kudos! Best to you and your family.
Laurie
12/21/2015 11:57:09 pm
After visiting Newgrange, Ireland a few months ago, winter solstice has a deeper and more pagan meaning for me. Slainte!🍷
Rebecca Moore
1/4/2016 06:40:05 pm
Newgrange is great, isn't it? So strange...
Shelley L Chase
3/9/2016 01:23:55 pm
When celebrating holidays, I always liked to bring in historical contexts to the day; e.g,, Christmas and Easter. It must have "taken," since when my son when back East to attend law school, he found that many were interested in his religion and his family history/pedigree. True to his teachings, he responded he was a Druid, and definitely was a mongrel. We can still respect and celebrate these holidays with a spiritual and sacred meaning, while enjoying how all have merged -- especially knowing that St. Nicholas (Nikolas) was a real and good man of the 4th Century, living in Greece (now Turkey). Definitely not the place to wear a hot, red suit with fur trim! (And, no reindeer in the country.) Oh, how our traditions and beliefs have evolved!!
Rebecca Moore
3/10/2016 06:28:06 pm
We forget how much our traditions evolve over time. I'm glad you pointed this out! Comments are closed.
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Author Rebecca Moore is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at San Diego State University. She is currently Reviews Editor for Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions and Co-Director of The Jonestown Institute. Archives
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