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- 14 pagan-flavored movies to consider for your next holiday get-together.
- Filmmakers just can't stay way from the pagan love of nature and magic.
- Pagan-themed movies can be excellent training for wee environmentalists.
<p>Hollywood has always loved holiday movies. From <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Miracle on 34th Street</em></a> to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Die Hard</em></a>, from <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040308/?ref_=nv_sr_4" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Easter Parade</em></a> to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411704/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Hop</em></a>, the big Christian holidays get plenty of Tinseltown love. But what's a pagan to watch on a chilly <a href="https://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolc.htm" target="_blank">Imbolc</a> afternoon?</p><p>Pagans are not any one thing, of course, since the term encompasses any belief system outside one of the world's major religions. Still, there are <a href="https://paganfed.org/index.php/federation/the-three-principles" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">three basic principles</a> that most if not all, pagans share:</p> <ol> <li>A veneration of the natural world</li> <li>A belief in polytheism or pantheism</li> <li>A belief in feminine divinity</li> </ol> <p>It's a fact that moviegoers seeking pagan holiday flicks are an underserved market. However, there are still plenty of pagan-compatible movies to enjoy on the Wheel of the Year's special days.</p><p>Before getting started, we should also mention a few pagan documentaries, recommended by the website <a href="https://ditzydruid.com/2016/02/16/my-favorite-pagan-movies-at-this-time/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Ditzy Druid</a>: <a href="http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/glenafooka" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Glenafooka</a>, <a href="http://alex-mar.com/documentary/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">American Mystic</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+ADF+Druidry&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Modern Druids</a></p>
Movies for pagan families
<p> Pagan beliefs most consistently find a home in movies for children and families. Certainly the magical and fantastical are more at home in young imaginations. However, there's also the fact pagan beliefs can imbue the young with an enhanced appreciation for the natural world they'll need as grownup climate-change warriors. And some of these movies are simply great films by any standard.</p>1. Moana
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTM2OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDE4OTQwN30.RtPioF3a490C6r8_L9aGAgTVRlIwEloVToN-kY4-q6A/img.jpg?width=980" id="27db5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="11375ae8c2b13a6ef3e7e47f0fceed9c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Walt Disney Pictures
<p><a href="https://www.imdb.com" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Internet Movie Database (IMDB)</em></a><em> description: In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.</em></p><p>This wonderful, tuneful, eye-popping hit movie is what kid's movies should be: Full of big, beautiful imagery, positive ideas, humor, unforgettable songs, and reverence for nature. Also, I lassoed the sun — now <em>that's</em> going to be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You're welcome.</p>2. My Neighbor Totoro
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Neighbor-Totoro-Bluray-Combo-Blu-ray/dp/B074128LDH?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B074128LDH" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTM3Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjY2Mjg0M30.0iJhTtkp96PGOFuuVCwzzatsJvBgpgFh_AJHt9HqRTo/img.jpg?width=980" id="8205f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="95560c309f29794616632def02318205" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /></a>Studio Ghibli
<p><em>IMDB description: When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.</em></p><p>That's putting it mildly. The mysterious and sweet spirits that inhabit this masterwork by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594503/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Hayao Miyazaki</a> are charming, Chaplinesque, and profound. A rainy bus stop, a magic tiger taxi, and ineffable truths that remain just beyond one's grasp. Honorable mention, though scarier: Miyazaki's <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Spirited Away</em></a>.</p>3. Song of the Sea
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTM4MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5Nzk4NTU1M30.9dEnEtsIXiidvTYnO1g1rkbcaxHcqYg1zjbnu2WPt40/img.jpg?width=980" id="4e187" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ff1111a6d8768a59a287207d4976110b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Backup Media/Screen Ireland
<p><em>IMDB description: Ben, a young Irish boy, and his little sister Saoirse, a girl who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to free the fairies and save the spirit world.</em></p><p>Another wonderfully magical tale rendered in art that manages to look both modern and ancient at the same time. The story involves Irish <a href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/legends-selkies-hidden-germs-sea-mythology-006409" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Selkies</a>, a missing mother, and haunting music from Lisa Hannigan, who also plays the (late?) mother.</p>4. Pan’s Labyrinth
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQwMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1Njc1MjcxNn0.8u_0NIudvrN2AQP9kFrOQtxoDrM-dF1tCkgmVlZMr7Y/img.jpg?width=980" id="4e161" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ec8d57a7e908bdc161a232ed884e9566" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Estudios Picasso/Tequila Gang/Esperanto Filmo
<p><em>IMDB description: In the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.</em></p><p>This one's for bigger kids, or children who enjoy a good fright. Gullermo Del Toro's bizarre imagery is likely to populate their dreams for a long, long time. Talk to the hand — the one with eyeballs in it.</p>5. Brave
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQxMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwODA4ODg4OX0.GmTFRnUJF5E2LzOzdkWVnUVaRMe4SzqVn5Lsc70L04Y/img.jpg?width=980" id="0cf06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="266c960dfa06bbfefd7567fdc2571eab" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Walt Disney Pictures
<p><em>IMDB description: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.</em></p><p>Is it just us, or is this one of Pixar's most beautiful films ever? The Scottish highlands, the greens and reds, and wee light spirits make this a great story of female empowerment for the young goddess.</p>6. The Lion King
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQxNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjQ3Nzc1MH0.AH1eFGNJaVMJ6MdnITIj_XAL1S94WRUKnXlqv-BxzAQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="b3920" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e7e8ccfed6e1531440cde148fbd10956" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Walt Disney Pictures
<p><em>IMDB description: A Lion cub crown prince is tricked by a treacherous uncle into thinking he caused his father's death and flees into exile in despair, only to learn in adulthood his identity and his responsibilities.</em></p><p>Ah, the Circle of Life in all its glory. A powerful story on one hand, and an appreciation of the richness of non-human lives on the other.</p>7. The Last Keepers
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDkxMjkzNn0.exl2neiONXqSyLyekh0WBJGsRGnFhj2k9SdM1WCzWaE/img.jpg?width=980" id="fa908" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="afae8d497c38c064a17e71dc9815706e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Vertical Entertainment
<p><em>IMDB description: When the teenage daughter of a reclusive family of artists falls in love with an unusual boy at school, she awakens mysterious powers and discovers ancient family secrets that will change her life forever.</em></p><p>For older kids, the story of a pagan teen's struggle to fit in, and her coming to appreciate the power and value of her family's pagan way of life.</p>Movies for big pagans
<p>These films are more sophisticated fare, though most are still quite heavy on the fantastical. The first one below is an exception.</p>8. Agora
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQyNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NjUyMDg0MH0.1DwZzX9Pgr7qGE1gIGqQKfjtYOF7cUgwxEMoLoQw2FE/img.jpg?width=980" id="231c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="628fa5f5130b0aff58b426688a1b153d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Mod Producciones
<p><em>IMDB description: A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hope of pursuing freedom while falling in love with his mistress, the philosophy and mathematics professor Hypatia of Alexandria.</em></p><p>A sword and sandal epic starring Rachel Weiss that basically asks "what's a pagan supposed to do when Christianity comes to town?" If your town is Alexandria in Egypt, that is.</p>9. The Mists of Avalon
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQzMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDAxOTQ1OH0.hbC1jmvBRrPaFKYamf_Muw68dBYRInANO4VmB88js4w/img.jpg?width=980" id="5e011" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1dd156f7a6517da618419fba587fd642" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />TNT/Warner Bros.
<p><em>IMDB description: Based on the bestseller by Marion Zimmer Bradley It tells the story of the women behind King Arthur; including his mother, Igraine; his half-sister, Morgaine; his aunt Viviane, the Lady of the Lake; and his wife, Gwenwyfar.</em></p><p>Pagan movie buff <a href="http://roylinfordadams.com/articles/paganfriendlymovies.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Roy Linford Adams</a> says this flick is "possibly the single most important movie for any Pagan family movie collection." The depiction of pagan beliefs is accurate in its telling of the manner in which British pagans responded to the arrival of Christianity. It's set within a realist take of the story of King Arthur.</p>10. Avatar
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQzNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzg2MTI0NX0.FwGMwQ6PpUXJJiXqU5ivxbklz6YAoNqRJsD-qdbbBXI/img.jpg?width=980" id="daeb6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9297448a3fdf90607b7ee8b29fdb2be9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Twentieth Century Fox
<p><em>IMDB description: A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.</em></p><p><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">James Cameron's</a> classic breakthrough CGI extravaganza centers on the Navii community's Tree of Life, essentially Goddess of their belief system. It's a big, visually thrilling film, and even moving at times. It's also lovely, with Cameron's reverence for the fauna of this made-up world painted everywhere.</p>11. Beowulf
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQ0MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTY5NDUzM30.WFtoiktEUjH9rThfAsUeELPz3Z386oI2ptW1_nfA9-I/img.jpg?width=980" id="69ed4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="372d4721e2245db2494eab66f7339424" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Paramount Pictures
<p><em>IMDB description: The warrior Beowulf must fight and defeat the monster Grendel who is terrorizing Denmark, and later, Grendel's mother, who begins killing out of revenge.</em></p><p>This floridly animated story — using <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/how-beowulf-rose-above-standard-animation/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">motion capture</a> of its actors — is based on the epic <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50114/beowulf-modern-english-translation" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Old English poem</a>. In it, warrior Beowulf slays the monster Grendle and then beds his mother played by Angelina Jolie, because Angelina Jolie. Also, Beowulf becomes king. Not that well-received during its release, the film is intense and pretty dark.</p>Witch flicks
<p>There's a whole sub-genre of movies about witches, and we're not even mentioning <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097814/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Kiki's Delivery Service</em></a>.</p>12. Practical Magic
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQ0My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDMzNDQyNn0.4gYPv2myH5XBHxCW3eU7fWIuqq2T1DlETS3jaaFTtrI/img.jpg?width=980" id="9ef37" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="93eff2b6463ef164545265ccd60d74eb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Warner Bros.
<p><em>IMDB description: Two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.</em></p><p>Who says you can't have a witch-based rom-com? With lots of star power in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000113/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Sandra Bullock</a> and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000173/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Nicole Kidman</a>, the mortal boy toy is played by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001644/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t6" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Aidan Quinn</a>, who's also the dad in <em>The Last Keepers</em> above.</p>13. The Good Witch
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQ0Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTAyMTAwMn0.vo0B_JW_kv52aHVGqtDU1haMjaKhfD-Xyby4Tq_kmhM/img.jpg?width=980" id="0aac7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c4e4691e29394604085ac7c8c02c54f4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Hallmark Channel
<p><em>IMDB description: A darkly beautiful and mysterious woman comes in to town and inhabits the local haunted mansion, making everyone wonder if she's a witch or "The Grey Lady."</em></p><p>Answer: She's a witch. A nice one who immediately digs in to help the natives. Her name's Cassandra, and after a bit of persecution, well…</p>14. Bewitched
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY2OTQ0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NzAyNzI1OX0.DlUbcFoE15ZW3cDPcACcO0cGhPiYIUrvBmaFIO6HOTM/img.jpg?width=980" id="b320e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7a9ccaef5f61a51c61065da0fd84cc85" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Columbia Pictures
<p><em>IMDB description: Thinking he can overshadow an unknown actress in the part, an egocentric actor unknowingly gets a witch cast in an upcoming television remake of the classic sitcom Bewitched.</em></p><p>The movie based on the 1960s TV show, this time starring Nicole Kidman as the winsome witch with whom bobblehead actor Will Ferrell falls in love. Definitely a lightweight movie, but perfectly innocuous. Watch it if you're fond of the leads.</p>
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Valentine’s Day: A watered-down pagan Lupercalia
Romans didn't do festivals half-way.
10 February, 2019
Image source: Public Domain / Wikimedia
- Modern Valentine's Day is a far more restrained version of the pagan holiday it replaced.
- During Lupercalia, Romans got naked, drunk, and there was whipping involved.
- Romantic cards? How about simulated penetration?
<p><br></p>
<p>There's hardly a warmer or fuzzier holiday than Valentine's Day each February 14. It was created in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, or maybe Felix III according to historian <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-roman-studies/article/god-of-the-lupercal/C3077F423905B3FED4403095D4F8737A" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">T.P. Wiseman</a>. Among those who helped reshape it into a day of romance were Chaucer and Shakespeare, and after Hallmark introduced the first Valentine's cards in 1913 it was on its way to becoming the celebration of hearts and flowers we know today. But it didn't start that way.</p><p>When Gelasius — or Felix — marked February 14th as the Feast of St. Valentine, he was absorbing a long-standing Roman, and likely pre-Roman, pagan holiday previously celebrated on February 15: Lupercalia. Forget touchy-feely. Lupercalia was intense. Various sources describe the festivities and their meaning differently, but they all describe a wild festival compared to the rom-com holiday we ended up with.</p>
St. Valentine, uh...
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE3OTIwNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDczMDkwNH0.YbJL9iwUdtpE4EPxFV50tRnKZDb_ePQ2wn_7AkwbAFs/img.jpg?width=980" id="27de1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="536fa74c247b7f1c88f61c83cc003eae" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Facial reconstruction of St. Valentine, based on putative remains. Image source: Cicero Moraes/Wikimedia
<p> But first of all, St. Valentine. There may or may not have ever been a St. Valentine. Even Gelasius doesn't seem to have known much about him, referring to him as one of those "… whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." The story goes that he was a third-century priest who was beheaded by Rome's Christian Emperor Claudius II for helping Christian Roman soldiers get married. That may or many not be true, but it's believed that Claudius had two men named Valentine beheaded in the third century, both of them on February 14th. Somewhere in here was Valentine of Interamna, who may or may not have been the same person as beheaded St. Valentine of Rome. There was also a third Valentine. Maybe.</p>Center of the action: Lupercal
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE4MjAwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDgxMzIxNH0.xiMkJSUq31M24-8HYz61gbjmNd97CD0MY5kCSt6L2Z4/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=43%2C148%2C71%2C-1&height=700" id="b9d63" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5b99eb459dd41fa109d7e682331d9123" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Lupercal cave was somewhere in Palatine Hill, Rome. Image source: Flickr user Roger W
<p>Lupercalia's "festivities" began in a cave called the Lupercal, which modern archeologists believe they <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7104330.stm" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">found</a> in 2007 on the north side of Palatine Hill in Rome. It was purported to be the shelter in which the twins of Roman mythology <a href="https://www.ancient.eu/Romulus_and_Remus/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Romulus and Remus</a> were suckled by a she-wolf (The Latin word is also slang for "prostitute," by the way, so, <em>hm</em> again.) Fourth-century pagan commentator Servius asserted that the cave was also the location at which the god Mars impregnated the twins' mortal mother, priestess Rhea Silvia.</p><p>That couple was said to have founded Rome, and that seems to be when the festival of Lupercalia started. The celebrations were conducted by the <em>Sodales Luperci</em>, a priestly college whose priests were known as <em>Luperci.</em> There were <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-roman-festival-of-lupercalia-121029" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">originally</a> by two families, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentes" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>gentes</em></a>, within the college descended from the twins, the <em>Quinctilii</em> from Romulus, and the <em>Fabii</em> from Remus. Eventually, Julius Ceasar added the <em>Julii</em>— for "Julius?" — one of whom was Marc Antony.</p>Lupercalia was a bad day for goats. And puppies!
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE3OTIxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDY0MjY3NH0.xOXifW-Bz-YXyY0jNaj7p7enoaj5WPJ8W4mNtdduZfI/img.jpg?width=980" id="9af41" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5ec16741ab0244ebe51fc3a30a4a29d6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Relief of a herdsman. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
<p>Lupercalia began with sacrifices of two goats and a puppy. Not an adult dog — it had to be a puppy. Why? It may have been a tribute to the she-wolf. However, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Plutarch</a>, speculating much later, suggested the tradition might have been handed down from the Greeks, who were apparently very fond of slaughtering adorable young dogs. They did it so often they even had a word for it, <em>periskulakismoi</em>, which is said to mean "purification by puppy."</p><p>As for the goats, sacrifice was just for openers. Romans stripped the flesh off of their carcasses and cut the material into furry thongs. (More on them in a moment.) They also spitted their entrails onto sticks to be eaten during the festival.</p>Also two rich boys
<p>Following the animal sacrifice, Luperci touched the heads of <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=AGVbAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=Lupercalia+drink&source=bl&ots=zgMMf7z9w8&sig=JBMHJDnTNDX8d2KHokEil3sT1hg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjthd2Ex4PSAhXizFQKHZP5BK0Q6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=Lupercalia%20drink&f=false" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">two young male nobles</a> with the blood-coated knives they'd used, after which wool dipped in milk would be rubbed on. Finally, with all that dripping down their faces, ears, and necks, the boys were expected to fake-laugh to conclude the ritual. It may have been about cleansing.</p>Thongs for the disturbing images
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE3OTIyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTkzNDg5Mn0.2L-Gn1uuNwVBSwQuxeUJ7hkN8j76rVapJ_EcqM3tO3E/img.jpg?width=980" id="a5571" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="398f829e02ae0d32a8602a3cb4aafa81" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Camassei, circa 1635. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
<p>The goat thongs were called <em>februare</em>. So, yes, these strips of hairy goat flesh are what the second month of the year is named for.</p><p>In any event, what happened next is that the Luperci, and perhaps other upper-class men, stripped naked, were oiled and went running through Rome, whipping women with their thongs. (Plutarch suggested their nakedness was for speed.) There was, of course, plenty of alcohol involved for celebrants and spectators.</p><p>The intent of the whipping wasn't punitive, and women only pretend to run away from lashes that were believed to enhance their fertility. It may be that the lashes symbolized penetration. After 276 BCE, women were actually encouraged to expose their flesh, too. However, eventually, the men were apparently covering their genitals with loincloths for relative modesty by the time of Christ.</p><p>An interesting historical side note. Julius Caesar was offered the throne when Marc Antony placed a wreath on his head as the future emperor watched the Lupercalia festivities. It may be time to rework your mental image of that as being short at least one toga. Antony, as a <em>Juliiian</em>, would have been oiled and stark naked when he approached Caesar with the crown.</p>And then there’s Lupercus
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE3OTIzNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTM3MDA3MH0.WrFtlVmQsek1sPXJTUDK4_w35YPyZ4uufS-1gST22Xw/img.jpg?width=980" id="78775" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="396eb439118b0c86c5b4d96e7d493c2a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />The wins and the she-wolf, circa 269-266 BC
(Curtius/Wikimedia)
<p> While the day of Lupercalia involved sharing tales of the Roman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunus#/media/File:Pan_goat_MAN_Napoli_Inv27709_n01.jpg" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Faunus</a> — who bestowed fruitfulness on "<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Faunus" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">field and flocks</a>" — the day was named for Lupercus. According to the <a href="https://pantheon.org/articles/l/lupercus.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Encyclopedia Mythica</em></a>, Lupercus was an ancient Italian god who was both protector of their sheep from wolves, and a provider of fertility. The Latin root of the name is <em>lupus</em>, or wolf.</p>Getting it out of your system
<p>Considering that the Romans' new year began in March, it's likely that at least one aspect of Lupercalia was a cleansing of the spirit to start fresh at the new year. The sacrifices and bloody young men seem to fit with this idea, as might the wanton drunkenness and general debauchery of the festival. (There's said to be some overlap between Faunus and <a href="https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/pan/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Pan</a>.)</p>Modern Lupercalia, pagan-style
<p>For today's self-proclaimed pagans, Valentine's Day still contains themes from Lupercalia, regardless of the degree to which the wilder aspects have been tamed. <a href="https://paganhumanismcanada.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/lascivious-lupercalia-why-valentines-is-a-vital-pagan-holy-day-for-the-modern-world/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Paganhumanismcanada</a> considers it, "A sacred and religious celebration of human sexuality and passion, many of the elements and themes have been retained: valentine's cards [versus <em>februare</em>], red heart shapes, single people going home with partners, married women wanting children, lust, sex, fertility." While there appears to be no universal way to commemorate this day of the wolf, some have devised their own <a href="https://owlsandindigo.com/modern-lupercalia-ritual/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">symbolic rituals</a>.</p>All of which brings us back to Valentine’s Day
<p>Of course, depending on who you ask, Valentine's Day can be every bit as unpleasant as Lupercalia sounds: It's the time of year for an involuntary inventory of one's love life. Singles and those with unhappy connexions can instead celebrate <a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Anti-Valentine%27s%20Day" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Anti-Valentine's Day</a>. For those whose long-term relationship has settled more into a partnership, it's likely to be met with a household decision to save the candy/flowers/gift money for something more practical.</p><p>On the other hand, if for you relationships merit nurturing and romance a refresher, try and put Lupercalia out of mind and seize the day to sweetly make your case, pagan or otherwise.</p>
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It's February and according to pagans, spring is upon us
Have we turned the corner of a cold winter?
02 February, 2019
A fire-cage swinging, Imbolc 2007, Marsden, England. Image source: Steven Earnshaw on Flickr
- The ancient holiday of Imbolc celebrates the imminent return of the sun in spring.
- The holiday also commemorates either goddess Bhrigid or St. Brigid, who may or may not be the same person.
- Good weather on Imbolc means more winter to come.
<p>Happy Imbolc! As it tends to be with pagan holidays, Celtic and Irish Imbolc is different things to different people and at different times. "Imbolc" is from the Celtic <em>i mbolg</em>, which means"in the belly," probably a reference to pregnant livestock at this time of year, mostly ewes, carrying their offspring to term in the spring. It was also called <a href="https://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolc.htm" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Oimelc</a>, which means "milk of ewes." </p><p>Imbolc represents a hopeful moment as the seasons begin to turn from darkest winter to the promise of spring: new life — fertility — renewal, and the return of the warming sun. In 2019, appropriately enough, February 1 was the day that one of the most extreme periods of cold ever experienced in the U.S. finally broke.</p><p>As website <a href="https://www.claddaghdesign.com/special-days/all-about-imbolc/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Claddagh Designs</a> puts it wryly: "The hardest part of the year was over; adverse weather, cold temperatures, food rationing, and of course, no warfare (an integral part of Celtic society) would soon be a thing of the past. Farmers were getting ready to go back to work, preparing animals for breeding, warriors were picking up their weapons again, and the political and social aspects of life that had been put on hold for winter were also beginning again."</p><p>Given the importance of agriculture and sunlight to ancient cultures, it's not a surprise that Imbolc dates back to Neolithic times, as evidenced by the way in which some monuments of that era — such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mound_of_the_Hostages" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Mound of the Hostages</a> at Tara in Ireland — contain passageways that align with sunrise on Imbolc and its autumnal cousin Samhain. The arrival of Christianity brought with it the association with St. Brigid, believed by some to have replaced the goddess Bhrigid. More on her/them later.</p>
What happens on Imbolc
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE4NDE3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzg2MzYwMn0.J4nebUjAPSR9453iF1kniUm6wllp3aDSExS6feMrVD8/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C78%2C182%2C24&height=700" id="e34be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c3e49973f9cc271780373669ca66ba3b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Photo credit: Tobias Vemmenby on Flickr
<p>As with any good festival, Imbolc involves feasting, particularly of home-and-hearth edibles <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/guide-to-celebrating-imbolc-2562102" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">stored over the winter,</a> such as breads, grains, onions, and potatoes.</p><p>In keeping with the (eventual) return of the sun, fire is a big part of Imbolc. Beyond spectacular public displays of fire, candles are lit all around celebrants' houses. In earlier times, hearths would burn through the Imbolc night, and if a house was made of non-flammable stone, multiple fires were lit.</p><p>People visit <a href="https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/munlochy/clootiewell/index.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">wells</a> on Imbolc, particularly holy wells, circling them in the same direction of the sun and praying for a good year ahead. Afterward, coins and pieces of cloth called "clooties" may be left as offerings.</p><p>Leading up to the holiday, people make <a href="http://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/imbolc-candlemas" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Brigid's crosses</a> that can be hung up around their houses in celebration of Imbolc. Another popular item is the green <em>brat Bhride</em>, or Bhrigid's mantle. Its origin is an offer of property made to the young Bhrigid/Brigid for an abbey she wished to build. The king told her she could have as much property as she could cover with her cloak. Using magic, she increased the size of the cloak until it was so massive it covered all the land she needed. </p><p>Today, women fashion their own Bhrigid's mantles of green cloth for wrapping around their shoulders, and it's believed that leaving such a mantle on the hearth allows Bhrigid to visit and bless it on Imbolc each year, making the mantle more and more imbued with her magic with each passing Imbolc.</p>Creepier than a groundhog
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE4NDE3MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjQwMTU3MH0.q2TIbdJKC2nzUnns75Q-NoTZXOoP8DCvSp4BfSrAhY4/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C270%2C300%2C42&height=700" id="a88e4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6f47a66b179663aa3bce63fbc35a7e31" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />A Cailleach bhéara. Image source: Rob Hurson on Flickr
<p>As with modern Groundhog Day on February 1, the weather on Imbolc foretells the future: An Imbolc with nasty weather signifies a great summer on the way. This may seem backwards at first glance, but here's how it works.</p><p>It all has to do with the heating needs of the forest hag <a href="https://www.transceltic.com/blog/cailleach-great-gaelic-goddess-of-winter" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Cailleach</a>, the goddess of winter. If winter is to go on for a while, Cailleach needs more firewood. She thus spends Imbolc searching the forests for it, and since she prefers to be out in the woods on a sunny and dry day, that's what the day provides. Bad weather, on the other hand, is good news: It means that Cailleach has no need for wood, what with spring just around the corner, and has decided to stay in and snooze a bit more.</p>Goddess Brighid and St. Brigid
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTE0MTU2OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzA0MDM2Nn0.nP0vp7SwdGtFaAUML4DQRr1UlClp-MPUVhV-SKHl_eM/img.jpg?width=980" id="90fe1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="21fbbd2aa229658c300cbe756e2b79c9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />A Brigid's cross. Image source: Bart Everson on Flickr
<p>The true history of how Imbolc came to its connection to St. Brigit is a little unclear.</p><p>The commonly told version is that she was preceded by the daughter of <a href="http://www.ancientpages.com/2018/06/16/god-dagda-a-powerful-leader-of-the-tuatha-de-danann-in-celtic-mythology/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">the Dagda</a> in Irish mythology. He was an early invader and one of the <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-irish-legend-of-tir-na-nog-2561709" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Tuatha de Danaan</em></a>. His daughter's name, "Bhrigid," is from the Celtic <em>brig</em>, for "exalted one." She was actually one of a trio, all of whom were named Bhrigid, and who were understood to represent three aspects of a single goddess. Hence, <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/brighid-hearth-goddess-of-ireland-2561958" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Bhrigid was considered a triple goddess</a>. Bhrigid was known for looking after healers, magicians, poets, and bards, and she was gifted at divination and prophecy. She also protected pregnant women and their infants; hence contemporary Bhrigid mantles are said to protect them as well.</p><p>A flame was secretly kept burning in Bhrigid's honor at the abbey she founded in Kildare, Ireland, and this flame — and the abbey — may have helped connect her to the later Christian St. Brigit. Lisa Lawrence suggests as much when she writes, in her <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/20557314" target="_blank"><em>Pagan Imagery in the Early Lives of Brigit</em></a>, that,"When two religious systems interact, a shared symbol can provide a bridge from one religious idea to another. During a period of conversion, an archetypical symbol such as fire may acquire a new referent, while not being entirely emptied of a previous one. For example, the fire that clearly signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit in Saint Brigit may continue to signify pagan conceptions of religious power."</p><p>St. Brigid, on the other hand, was <a href="https://www.newgrange.com/imbolc.htm" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">born in Faughart,</a> County Louth in Ireland, and died sometime around 525. She was a <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-brigid-of-ireland-134" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">devoted servant of the Church</a>, and founder of religious communities in Ireland — likely the reason she was made a saint. she's also credited with founding the same Kildare abbey allegedly built by Bhrigid, one example of how the histories of these two women have become so interwoven that they're impossible to separate. Their identities have progressively merged since goddess Bhrigid's day became St. Brigid's day after the latter's death. </p><p>Adding more confusion to the story is the apparent case that the first written reference to the goddess Bhrigid appeared in the 10th century, long after St. Brigid had become the focus of Imbolc. <a href="https://www.newgrange.com/imbolc.htm" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Newgrange.com</a> suggests, "So it could be argued that 5th century Saint Brigid predates the goddess Brigid." Or perhaps it's just a whisper of <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140808-outlander-scotland-orkney-islands-stonehenge-neolithic/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Outlander-style</em></a> standing-stone time travel we can add to an already a magical story. </p>
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We’ve been celebrating pagan holidays a long time
Some things have always been worth celebrating.
25 January, 2019
Photo credit: Flickr user Christof
- Some lost ancient holidays aren't really so lost after all.
- All of us celebrate at least some pagan traditions whether we know it or not.
- There are two things that tend to bring humans together: crises and holidays.
<p>One of humanity's greatest advantages is our propensity for community — we can accomplish together what no one can pull off alone. It's not something that happens automatically or even all the time, of course, and we can be fractious. There are, though, two things that tend to bring us together: crises and holidays.</p><p>Going back to time immemorial we've come together for holidays that celebrate our commitment to one another in the face of both difficulties and achievements. We enjoyed holidays that celebrated shared joy at the completion of common tasks such as harvests, and reaffirmed our resolve to get through, say, a hard winter together.</p><p>In Europe many of these ancient celebrations reflected worldviews that were displaced by Christianity spreading across the region after about 200 CE. Christianity largely replaced the focus on the individual experience with the celebration of the life of Christ. Some millennia-old holidays disappeared, as others were co-opted by the Church. And yet, many not completely lost, and their echoes underscore how human understanding changes, evolves, and goes back and forth over time. The big questions remain. Answers come and go.</p>
Life in all its messy glory
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTExOTEzNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzQxNjY5NH0.qmOiMnEbbtf341uJDPBS7JMYzxiK-LktQSX6lS3y0wI/img.jpg?width=980" id="c6092" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f3071e9dec24fb0bb1b20b7226c6275f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Stonehenge sunrise. Photo credit: Tony Craddock on Shutterstock
<p>Ancient holidays tended to depict the experience of everyday people, in some places personified by major and minor deities, animals, or natural phenomenon. While each civilization enjoyed a holiday calendar that reflected its own beliefs, there were certain events that were largely universal: Holidays that marked changes of seasons, represented by different positions of the sun in the sky. Signs whose significance has been understood for a very, very long time.</p> <ul> <li>Winter solstice: December 20–23</li> <li>Vernal equinox: March 19–22</li> <li>Summer solstice: June 19–23</li> <li>Automnal equinox: September 21–24</li> </ul>Spring by any other name
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTExOTE1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwODcxODQyMH0.pn-b6Tk7ySTLapAtMfjecd0yxgRs_9s7dTQXhqtdVyg/img.jpg?width=980" id="3771b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d7ec734c90701bfc46f6e0c6efd75652" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />O jovem Baco e seus seguidores ("The young Bacchus and his followers"). Painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
<p>As one would expect, the expression of these events varied from place to place. For example, during what we consider Spring:</p> <ul> <li>The Persian holiday <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/3/19/17138516/persian-new-year-nowruz-explained" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Nowruz</a> marks the start of the new year with a clearing away of the old at the vernal equinox. It dates back some 3,000 years to the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/religion/zoroastrianism" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Zoroastrianism</a> religion.</li></ul><ul><li>Also celebrating the new year with the onset of spring were the ancient Mesopotamians, whose 5,000-year-old <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/religion/akitu/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Akitu</a> festival occurred during the first month of the <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/calendar-babylonian/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Babylonian calendar</a>, likewise in the March/April time frame.</li></ul><ul> <li>In ancient Greece, March brought with it the dramatic festival of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Dionysia" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Dionyisa</a> that honored of the Greek god of wine.</li></ul><ul> <li>In pre-Christian Rome they had a similar idea, though their god of wine, Bacchus, was a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cocktail-conversations-dionysus-vs-bacchus/articleshow/14360911.cms" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">somewhat more colorful</a>, extravagant, fertile — okay, sexual — figure, and the celebrations are believed to have <a href="https://www.rebelcircus.com/blog/bacchanalia-ancient-roman-sex-festival-wish-attended/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">reflected his demeanor</a></li></ul>What’s a pagan?
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTExOTE2MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTM2MjI5M30.MFN5U5IoleTnOG1aTv_7zOIlTg9LDjuzRDw4eD8BvA4/img.jpg?width=980" id="721d5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="572fc93677a4f44e3f4206e1af224f7b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />The Triumph Of Christianity Over Paganism. Wow. Painting by Gustave Doré
<p>"Pagan," from the latin word <em>paganus</em>, <a href="https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pagan" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">originally described</a> followers of a particular, pre-Christian polytheistic religion. Over time, though, its meaning broadened. The <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/pagan" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1"><em>Oxford Dictionary</em></a> awards it two very different meanings. The first reflects its use as a perjorative (<em>see painting above)</em>:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;"><em>"Belonging or relating to a religion that worships many gods, especially one that existed before the main world religions."</em></p><p>Today, the word often carries less of a sting, and in fact has been adopted proudly by some of the many people who believe that a naturalistic view more accurately represents their view of the world around them. <em>Oxford's</em> second definition: </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;"><em>"Belonging or relating to a modern religion that includes beliefs and activities that are not from any of the main religions of the world, for example the worship of nature."</em></p>Proud pagans of the 21st century
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTExOTE2My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjQ4NTUwOX0.VRCt2uoaJyNe58qtJBAzC85-d1HLgyUdaiVuUE6wpOs/img.jpg?width=980" id="b9eea" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d98c878deb4dfb68066c0c0f83c7ab86" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Big Think)
<p>Modern pagans, in a fitting echo of the original different civilizations from which their holidays have sprung, recognize a diverse range of annual celebrations throughout what they commonly view as the Wheel of the Year.</p><p>As always, the seasons rank high in importance among contemporary pagan holidays, and they have ancient-<em>sounding </em>names.</p> <ul> <li>Yule: The word "Yule" is probably a Germanic version of the Scandinavian winter solstice holiday's name, <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice-customs.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Juul</a>. As the world turned the corner toward longer days, pre-Christian Scandinavians paid tribute to <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/thor/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Thor</a> (pre-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Cinematic_Universe" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">MCU</a>) with the burning of the Juul log.</li> <li>Ostara: The vernal equinox is celebrated with a holiday named after <a href="https://www.goddess-guide.com/ostara.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Ostara</a>, the Germanic goddess of Spring. (Her name is also the basis for "Easter.") Ostara was represented by the hare and with eggs, both symbols of fertility. Ring a bell?</li> <li>Lithia: The fire festival of Lithia marks the sun's longest, and thus symbolically, most powerful day of the year. The Celts <a href="http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/the_wheel_of_the_year/litha_-_summer_solstice.asp" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">lit celebratory fires</a> that burned from sunset the night before Lithia until sunset of the holiday. "Lithia" is the Latin name for the June and July months, at least according to an 8th-century monk, Bede, <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-pagans-celebrate-litha-the-summer-solstice_us_57632742e4b015db1bc8ce5c" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">who said so</a>. (We're unable to confirm this in modern Latin.)</li> <li>Mabon: The holiday name "Mabon" goes all the way back to… the 1970s. It's not an ancient pagan holiday, but a <a href="https://exemplore.com/wicca-witchcraft/Wiccan-Wheel-of-the-Year-What-is-Mabon" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">modern one</a>. Mabon was the son of Welsh mythology's Mordred, who was either the <a href="https://childrenofarthur.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/mordred-and-modron-arthurs-mysterious-brothers/" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">son or brother</a> of King Arthur, he of the Table Round. It's not clear.</li> </ul> <p>Quarter holidays for modern pagans are typically Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain, a story in and of itself.</p>How a pagan holiday is reinvented: Christmas
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTExOTE2NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1Njk0ODcwOX0.cMj9PIk3-8p677_xGM1Ehdyk0r3CgRhPKVh2z-XBYag/img.jpg?width=980" id="25b3f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bbf1967a95d29c16b582770edf6003ab" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Image source: GJones Creative
<p>As Christianity took root, some pagan holidays were so popular that they were simply absorbed. The symbolism of an original celebration sometimes survived — as with Easter's rabbits and eggs — or a new meaning was superimposed over pre-existing festivities. Christmas is a good example. </p><p>Christmas has something to do with the birthday of Jesus, though the connection is not as direct as it might seem, and, in fact, may actually not have anything to do with him.</p><p>The earliest record of Jesus' birth puts it at January 6, though it's not entirely clear why. (The earliest Christians didn't celebrate his birth.) According to <a href="http://www.religionfacts.com/christmas#sthash.HISkqYBr.dpuf" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">Religion Facts</a>, the January birth was based on his crucifixion date of April 6: It may have been "a calculation based on an assumed date of crucifixion of April 6 coupled with the ancient belief that prophets died on the same day as their conception."</p><p>The festivities had shifted to December 25 by 273 AD, perhaps to take advantage of longstanding, well-attended pagan solstice celebrations. As far as their symbolism goes, the 1922 revision of Sir James George Frazer 's <em>The Golden Bough</em> <a href="https://www.bartleby.com/196/84.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">contains this</a> eye-popper: </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;"><em>"</em>In the Julian calendar the twenty-fifth of December was reckoned the winter solstice, and it was regarded as the Nativity of the Sun, because the day begins to lengthen and the power of the sun to increase from that turning-point of the year. The celebrants retired into certain inner shrines, from which at midnight they issued with a loud cry, "The Virgin has brought forth! The light is waxing!" The Egyptians even represented the new-born sun by the image of an infant which on his birthday, the winter solstice, they brought forth and exhibited to his worshippers<em>."</em></p><p>Sound familiar? Eventually, the existing solstice story may have simply been re-written as Jesus' nativity, his presumed birth date of January 6 being rechristened the Festival of the Epiphany. (<em>Washington Post</em> has a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/12/25/why-is-christmas-on-dec-25-a-brief-history-lesson-that-may-surprise-you/?utm_term=.55e42b40cad3" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">great article</a> about Christmas' origins.) If the Star of Bethlehem is factual, though, it appears his birthday would have actually been in June or October, depending on the year in which he was born, which <a href="https://www.livescience.com/42976-when-was-jesus-born.html" target="_blank" data-vivaldi-spatnav-clickable="1">experts</a> believe was <em>not</em> 1 AD.<span></span></p>Old stories, good stories
<p> Some things are just obvious if one lives at a latitude where there are seasons. For as long as understanding of what it all means remains elusive, we might as well at least come together to celebrate now and then. That seems to have been the conclusion, anyway, of ancient humankind. It still seems a pretty good plan today.</p>
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