Tis the season for holidays other than Christmas and Hanukkah
By: Patrick Chavis and Gail Navarro
Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: Features
During this time of the year Holidays are on many minds.
Throughout America, Britain, African and all over the world people celebrate different holiday's with different meanings and different traditions, so many in fact that a lot of people don't even know that some exist.
These celebrations cover a wide spectrum of wholesome ideas: from going to midnight mass, opening those presents first thing in the morning or lighting the menorah at grandmother's house.
Though religions such as Christianity and Judaism do play a significant role this time of year, it does not dampen the spirit of other holidays: Yule, Eid al-Ahda, Boxing Day and Kwanzaa are all celebrated by devoted communities all around the globe.
Yule
Tracing its roots back to Scandinavian aboriginals, Yule celebrates the winter solstice.
"[It] centers around December 20 to the 23 in the northern hemisphere," said Paul Levesque, comparative religion professor.
This year, it will take place on Dec. 20 and pagans will celebrate the return of the warm sun ahead of the long winter days.
"[It's about] showing the unity of creation, light in the darkness," Levesque said.
Yule also reinforces the notion of rebirth during the wintertime and it commemorates the New Year in western and northern traditions of Wicca.
To represent this idea, Pagans utilize all things evergreen, such as the Christmas tree, wreath, hollies and even the mistletoe.
In fact, the pagan practice of the Christmas tree in the house holds no religious connotation whatsoever because it does not center on a religious icon.
Bringing greenery into a house celebrates life and the energy that surrounds it - a stark contrast to the lifeless winter landscape outdoors.
Even though Christmas has its religious connection, Christians unknowingly engage in pagan rituals whenever they decorate their houses: hanging a Christmas wreath on the door, putting up lights outside the house and decorating the fireplace with holly berries.
Throughout America, Britain, African and all over the world people celebrate different holiday's with different meanings and different traditions, so many in fact that a lot of people don't even know that some exist.
These celebrations cover a wide spectrum of wholesome ideas: from going to midnight mass, opening those presents first thing in the morning or lighting the menorah at grandmother's house.
Though religions such as Christianity and Judaism do play a significant role this time of year, it does not dampen the spirit of other holidays: Yule, Eid al-Ahda, Boxing Day and Kwanzaa are all celebrated by devoted communities all around the globe.
Yule
Tracing its roots back to Scandinavian aboriginals, Yule celebrates the winter solstice.
"[It] centers around December 20 to the 23 in the northern hemisphere," said Paul Levesque, comparative religion professor.
This year, it will take place on Dec. 20 and pagans will celebrate the return of the warm sun ahead of the long winter days.
"[It's about] showing the unity of creation, light in the darkness," Levesque said.
Yule also reinforces the notion of rebirth during the wintertime and it commemorates the New Year in western and northern traditions of Wicca.
To represent this idea, Pagans utilize all things evergreen, such as the Christmas tree, wreath, hollies and even the mistletoe.
In fact, the pagan practice of the Christmas tree in the house holds no religious connotation whatsoever because it does not center on a religious icon.
Bringing greenery into a house celebrates life and the energy that surrounds it - a stark contrast to the lifeless winter landscape outdoors.
Even though Christmas has its religious connection, Christians unknowingly engage in pagan rituals whenever they decorate their houses: hanging a Christmas wreath on the door, putting up lights outside the house and decorating the fireplace with holly berries.
Multi
The Archives
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
shalomwiccan
posted 12/10/07 @ 7:19 AM PST
Very informative article. But I would have liked to have read more about what Kwanzaa entails, not just Dr. Owen's qualified opinion of it.
FireSerpent
posted 12/10/07 @ 8:03 AM PST
I love that he touches on different holiday traditions, but this should have been corrected:
"Lighting the candle and wearing a Dashiki seems unnecessary to growth since Africa is still an undeveloped country," Owen said. (Continued…)
Missy
posted 12/10/07 @ 12:09 PM PST
Actually Yule falls on Dec 22nd this year....research!!!
Missy
posted 12/10/07 @ 12:18 PM PST
got another comment too. When pagans utilize all things evergreen they do not bring in a Christmas tree... it is just a tree that holds a completely different purpose. (Continued…)
Dana Corby
posted 12/10/07 @ 2:56 PM PST
Nice attempt at inclusiveness. Unfortunately, illiterate and ill-informed. If these kids are planning on careers in journalism, they have a long way to go!
Dana Corby
(free-lance copy editor, among other things)
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