Favorite Pagan ritual for Non-Pagans

[England my lionheart]

Yule Log,find a fallen branch in the Woods or Forest which you are supposed to be drawn to,put it halfway into a fire on Yule,when the log has burned halfway and after you have made your wish you retain the unburnt half to start next years fire and to protect the family in the comming year.

 

[Me Myself]

I knock on wood so that bad things don´t happen to me. I guess that is pagan, or is it not? :ninja:

I still will light a candle and incense for a departed person, like many Filipinos and Mexicans are apt to do.

I also miss casting a circle and calling upon the four directions to create a sacred space. "Cast the circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out."

Can´t you mix it up with what Rama did? I am just saying

 

[Somerled32]

Does anyone actually believe Jesus was born on December 25TH ? The 21st is the winter solstice however and the days start getting longer. Pagans celebrate the birth on the sun god.

As I understand it, there were many different cultures that celebrated the coming of the lighter par of the year around this time, the Celts actually celebrated the solstice (on Dec 21-22) but the Romans and Germanic tribes held festivities a few days later than the Celts (Dec 24 or 25).

 

[Kathryn]

Personally, I don't much care what the ancient traditions stood for. I mean, they are not offensive to me.

When I put up a Christmas tree, it's for several reasons:

1. The tree is evergreen and symbolizes eternal life.

2. The lights represent that Jesus is the light of the world.

3. The tree also symbolizes both the manger and the cross.

4. The gifts below the tree are symbolic of the gifts the wise men brought, and that Jesus is the gift of God.

5. Most of my ancestors hail from Germany and England and Scotland, lands where Yuletide and other ancient ceremonies involving evergreens come from. These traditions in my own home are also a nod to my ancestors.

Really - all that matters is what these things symbolize to my family and me.

To each his own.

 

[Penumbra]

I'm not all that interested in symbols; I just think Christmas trees are really pretty.

 

[Penumbra]

Currently or never?

I was given cakes with candles a few times as a child.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I'm not all that interested in symbols; I just think Christmas trees are really pretty.

I think stained glass is really pretty. It was all about worshiping the sun god once upon a time.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Personally, I don't much care what the ancient traditions stood for. I mean, they are not offensive to me.

When I put up a Christmas tree, it's for several reasons:

1. The tree is evergreen and symbolizes eternal life.

2. The lights represent that Jesus is the light of the world.

3. The tree also symbolizes both the manger and the cross.

4. The gifts below the tree are symbolic of the gifts the wise men brought, and that Jesus is the gift of God.

5. Most of my ancestors hail from Germany and England and Scotland, lands where Yuletide and other ancient ceremonies involving evergreens come from. These traditions in my own home are also a nod to my ancestors.

Really - all that matters is what these things symbolize to my family and me.

To each his own.

Kathryn, that ties it up in a nice little bow and I am glad you enjoy the holidays.

My ancestors where German. They came here before the civil war. My grand parents where native born but still had a heavy German accent. They where born in the 1880's and where very superstitious.

The thing is, you have to acknowledge where these traditions originally came from.

That does not mean Paganism is bad or wrong, what it does mean is Christians may have converted many Pagans, but Pagans influenced Christians just as much.

Before there was Christianity, our ancestors where Pagan.

Before there was Protestants, all Christians where Catholic, so our ancestors where Catholic as well back in the day.

Where the hypocrisy shows up is when we have Protestant's saying bad things about Pagans and Catholics when they follow some of their traditions still to this day.

Jesus was Jewish. Can you imagine what he will think when he returns and sees all these Christians following many of these Pagan traditions in his name?

Eating ham around the Christmas tree and painting eggs on Easter?

I'm not going to throw these long held traditions out of my home, but I'm not going to bad talk these other religions either.

I'm not saying that you do, I'm saying I would bet my bottom dollar you have worshiped with folks that have however. I know I have in the past.

That is why I am taking a hard look at Pauline principles and may not be a Christian one day.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

That is why I am taking a hard look at Pauline principles and may not be a Christian one day.

Don't worry, we'll be here for you when the time comes.

 

[Kathryn]

Kathryn, that ties it up in a nice little bow and I am glad you enjoy the holidays.

My ancestors where German. They came here before the civil war. My grand parents where native born but still had a heavy German accent. They where born in the 1880's and where very superstitious.

The thing is, you have to acknowledge where these traditions originally came from.

That does not mean Paganism is bad or wrong, what it does mean is Christians may have converted many Pagans, but Pagans influenced Christians just as much.

Before there was Christianity, our ancestors where Pagan.

Before there was Protestants, all Christians where Catholic, so our ancestors where Catholic as well back in the day.

Where the hypocrisy shows up is when we have Protestant's saying bad things about Pagans and Catholics when they follow some of their traditions still to this day.

Jesus was Jewish. Can you imagine what he will think when he returns and sees all these Christians following many of these Pagan traditions in his name?

Eating ham around the Christmas tree and painting eggs on Easter?

I'm not going to throw these long held traditions out of my home, but I'm not going to bad talk these other religions either.

I'm not saying that you do, I'm saying I would bet my bottom dollar you have worshiped with folks that have however. I know I have in the past.

That is why I am taking a hard look at Pauline principles and may not be a Christian one day.

Talk to me before you throw in the towel.

 

[froggerlover]

not completely a "pagan" (in the "non-christian" sense of the word) holiday, but Christmas, is it just coincidence that it is right after the winter solstice, :areyoucra i don't think so! But we all look forward to it.