I came across this post from the 18c woman's list and thought y'all might enjoy it
Happy Solstice As Christianity spread, it appropriated many pagan symbols, most of which are no longer seen as metaphors. Pagan Romans brought evergreens into their homes for Solstice celebrations. Like the Solstices promise of Springtime, evergreens symbolized immortality--they don't turn brown in winter. These became the Christmas trees of Europe and connect to the immortality promised by Christ. Christmas tree ornaments are stand-ins for the apples Northern European pagans tied to trees to remind themselves that summer would return. The pagans also placed candles in the branches of their trees, similar to the Hanukkah menorah and harken back to the Solstice bonfires and Yule logs of everyone from the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the Druids and the Norsemen. The Christmas tree is far more pagan than Christian and directly tied to the Solstice--although it also echoes the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden and the Cross, but those interpretations came later, as justifications for these obviously pagan symbols. The use of holly and mistletoe are similar borrowings from pagan Solstice festivals. So too, has the character known as Santa Claus been merged into the Christian celebration. Many pagan cultures had a character who would visit at the Solstice to bring gifts. A Yule elf with magical reindeer was one such being, clothed in the traditional red, black, and white costume--the colors of life, death and rebirth. "Old Nick" was a Danish sea God and the early Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas, was attributed a power over storms and possessed a magic cauldron to resurrect the dead (a power both very pagan and also Christ-like). The visitor came at night and left gold coins in stockings and shoes. In the Netherlands, he was called Sinter Klaas--a name later Anglicized to Santa Claus. The Danish gift-bringer known as Julemanden has elves as helpers, arrives in a sleigh drawn by reindeer and sports a sack of goodies on his back. Most famously portrayed in Clement Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit From Saint Nicholas", popularly known as "The Night Before Christmas", Santa Claus appears totally of pagan origin. Charles Dickens' "Ghost of Christmas Present" from his "Christmas Carol" story is clearly another version of this Santa character--right down to his jolly laughter. Some people bemoan the modern celebration of Santa Claus and gift giving as straying from "what Christmas is all about." To them, Santa Claus is an interloper crashing the celebration of the birth of Christ. But if you see the two as manifestations of the Winter Solstice, they are very closely related. Like the return of the Sun, both Santa and Jesus Christ are gift givers with miraculous powers whose coming is hoped for and celebrated every year at the Solstice. Christ was considered the son of God, but also God, himself. Traditionally, God and Santa Claus are both depicted as wise old men with white beards who know if people have been bad or good and judge them--dispensing or withholding gifts. Those gifts could be a toy, another good harvest, or life after death. If you are bad, Santa Claus brings you a lump of coal. If you lead a bad life, the Catholic God sends you to Hell, the land of coal. But don't fret, because, doesn't coal produce light when lit? And light is what the holiday is really all about--a light of redemption, another chance. In ancient societies, light meant life--without it there was none. The light symbolized the afterlife, Heaven, Valhalla, Nirvana, Happy Hunting Grounds, even reincarnation. Today, people who have had near-death experiences report seeing a bright light. The Winter Solstice marks the rebirth of the Sun. The return of light means there is always hope. And our celebrations validate faith. Believing in Santa Claus is no child's deception, no more so than believing in God is an adult's deception. They are both articles of faith. The shared message of the solstice festivals of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa--that life will go on--is more universal than their Jewish, Christian, or African origins would lead you to believe. As long as there are children, there will be a Santa Claus. As long as there are people, there will be a God. And as long as there is a Winter Solstice there is the promise of life renewed. The Winter Solstice festival is the worlds greatest holiday, a celestial celebration. From cavemen to spacemen, it's been the same festive occasion. So have a happy Solstice! Don't belittle it. This is what we've really been celebrating all along. And for those that really need spinning content, take a look at this site. Those Germans were a crazy bunch! (my ancestors included) http://heli.best.vwh.net/genealogy/spin.html bj, spending the solstice staying up way too late! -- *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* BJ Heeke mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] spindlepins http://www.geocities.com/wooltwister/index.html Blue Moon Fibers http://www.geocities.com/wooltwister/bluemoonfibers.html Come on by and check out all the new spindlepins now available! Makes a great holiday or anytime gift ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
