Pagan Truth:- The Green Santa - In the Beginning

The original Santa, or Saint Nicholas, was green and not red, as we portray him today. Not only that, but he had a totally different meaning to the Santa Claus we know today.

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas...

from Santa Claus page @ Wikipedia

The Santa we see in modern times only came about in the early 1950's, when Coca Cola had a problem with sales in some European countries. They adopted his image at the time for a couple of reasons: The first being Post war depression. But the main reason was Coca Cola was little known to Europeans, and the depression's effects made it harder.

Vintage Cocoa Cola Christmas Advert

One astute salesman (sent to Europe to help sales) -who happened to be studying children's stories- came across the legend of Saint Nicholas. (A character who willingly gave to children - to spread joy into their povity-stricken-lives.)

Deciding to use this fabled character in a world-wide marketing campaign, Coca Cola came up with a sales pitch to capture the market. They increased the sales of cola with a jolly fat man in a red and white suit, which perfectly matched their product colours, and instilled a feeling of joy (about a man like St. Nicholas who gave presents one day of each year to enrich their lives) even just for a while.

The Europeans ate up this American link to their own heritage seeing similarities to their own versions of St. Nicholas; especially as they didn't knowing this was created just to sell a product.

Spirit of Yule

It might be of surprise to realise that Santa's suit was originally green before Cocoa Cola changed it to their logo colours of red and white; and all just to push cola into the depressed European market. So strange, but really true.

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Pagan Truth:- Christmas Pagan Origins

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Reblogged: « Christmas Pagan Origins »

Spirit of Yule

Few people realize that the origins of a form of Christmas was pagan and; celebrated in Europe long before anyone there had heard of Jesus Christ.

No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter.

So why do we celebrate Christ's birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honouring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who travelled from house to house entertaining their neighbours. From this, the Christmas tradition of carolling was born.

In northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.

Huge Yule logs were burned in honour of the sun. The word Yule itself means "wheel," the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Holly berries were thought to be a food of the gods.

The tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again. Evergreen boughs were sometimes carried as totems of good luck and were often present at weddings, representing fertility. The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping huge trees.

In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ's birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them.

Christmas (Christ-Mass) as we know it today, most historians agree, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany. A prominent Lutheran minister of the day cried blasphemy:

"Better that they should look to the true tree of life, Christ."

The controversy continues even today in some fundamentalist sects.

Pagan Truth: Thanksgiving Roots

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It is taught in American schools that the Pilgrims established Thanksgiving (to share their abundant harvest with local Wampanoag "People of the Dawn" Tribe).

« Most history books would like to convince us that Thanksgiving Day goes back to only Plymouth Rock in the 1600's. Plymouth Rock was not the first Thanksgiving Day though. (Ever wonder why Canada has a Thanksgiving Day also?) This pagan feast, honoring the agricultural gods, goes back thousands of years, in one form or another. »

More Roots of Halloween (the Celtic Samhain)

As I said last week, the roots of Halloween can be found in the Celtic (Samain) Samhain.

For the Celts, this time of the (wheel of the) year was marked by the sun's passage into the underworld - thus allowing the forces of 'the underworld' to ascend.

Halloween Lantern (Photo credit: somewhereintheworldtoday)

Unfettered by the controlling the sun-god, Mog Ruith, the Lord of the Underworld, becomes able to walk the earth from Autumn to Winter, along with all the other creatures -of the dead- of his abode. (In Celtic mythology, the Lord of the Dead is often identified as Donn.)

Both Donn and Mog Ruith (the sun-god  are closely associated with Samhain. (Mog Ruith, as sun-god  sojourned at the realm of the underworld, the abode of Donn during this time of the year.)

The Celts were fascinated by their ancestors  causing a belief that at death they went to the house of their ancestor, the god of the underworld, Donn.

For the Celts, this was a time when fairies, goolies and all manner of other creatures and ghosts traveled abroad (walking the earth).

Their fires were lit in honor of the sun-god  Mog Ruith, and to keep the Lord of the Dead/Underworld at bay.

(Samhain is placed on the boundary between Summer and Winter, between the two halves of the year; giving it the unique status  to the Celts of being suspended in time. Belong to neither the old year nor the new. During the night of Samhain, life's natural order is thrown into chaos; the world of the living becoming entangled with the world of the dead.)

On this night, the unwary Celtic traveler  would expect to encounter creatures of the dead. (Back then, it was advisable to refrain from going out at night.) Ghosts were everywhere.

Lighting the bonfires marked the domestic celebration of the feast. Allowing the spirits of the ancestors back into the household.

The ancestral ghosts needed appeasement in the form of ritual offerings; to insure good luck through the following year. This is were the 'Trick or Treat' tradition of the modern Halloween originated. (Children dressed as the dwellers of the underworld - ghosts, witches, and monsters - visit homes with the hope of getting 'treats' or performing a 'trick' on the household's occupants - the equivalent of a dose of bad luck.)

Toffee Apples (Photo credit: julie gibbons)

More next week

The roots of Halloween can be found in the Celtic (Samain) Samhain

As millions of children and adults prepare to participate in the fun of Halloween, few are aware of its ancient Celtic roots in the Samhain (Samain) festival.

Halloween Costumes (Photo credit: Transguyjay)

In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago, Samhain was the division of the year between summer (the lighter half of the year) and winter (the darker half if the year.

At Samhain the division between the other-world and this world is at its thinnest; allowing spirits to pass between the two.

The honoured family's ancestors were invited into the home. (Whilst warding-off harmful spirits.)
By wearing masks and costumes, the community disguised themselves as harmful spirits, in the hope of preventing being attacked by them.

The festivities would take place on the Eve of Samhain, as Halloween does today. The Samhain festival marked the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of the next one. (Halloween can be seen to the Celtic equivalent of New Year's Eve. This festival being the most important of the four Celtic Festivals: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.)

A large part of the festivities surrounded bonfires and food: Household fires were extinguished and started again from the communal bonfire. The bones from the slaughtered livestock used to feed the community were cast into this bonfire.

English bonfire (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Both the living and the dead were fed. Because the ancestors were in unable to eat their share, the less well off ritually ate for them.

Great numbers of Irish immigrants flocked to America during the Nineteenth Century (around the time of 1840's famine), taking with them their Halloween traditions. (Where it has become a crucial time of year; one of the USA's major holidays during modern times. The American harvest-time tradition of carving pumpkins has been embedded into these traditions.)

Jack-o-lantern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is no doubt that that Halloween is loaded with symbolic significance from its Samhain past.

The lighting of these Winter Fires (bonfire) marked the sun's passage across the skies; and preceded its symbolic death in December. Fire being the sun's earthly counterpart, especially during the onset of winter.


More next week

Samhain? Is It Time To Talk About Ancestors Yet? « myvillagewitch

reblogged: Samhain? Is It Time To Talk About Ancestors Yet? « myvillagewitch:

'via Blog this'

Not quite? Not yet? Still a holy day to go before that one, you say?

Perhaps I should shorten my vision a bit.

We have been deeply…enmeshed in the process of creating a group of clergy for Mother Grove Goddess Temple. It’s has been scary and invigorating and silly and annoying. And very very good. This time next week, it’ll be a done deal since the rite of ordination occurs Friday night. At New Moon.

In some ways it seems a simple thing–a group of women who’ve been studying for over a year are capping off their studies with a ceremony. Like graduation or something.

And then I remember what this is. It’s the ordination of clergy in a Goddess temple.

A Goddess temple. In Asheville. A College of Celebrants in a…Goddess temple.

Then I gulp and rub my eyes and have to sit down for a minute because that part seems rather glorious and a little magical and filled with mystery and import.

And it is–on the one hand. We’re part of a rising movement across the globe–a movement that is sometimes called the Return of the Goddess or the Rise of the Great Mother. Each time I hear of a new temple starting out, my heart swells with joy and I feel the pull of past and future simultaneously, as though I stand on a hill and see forward and back. I feel the pull of the mythic past and the tug of a future that we weld together with fire and longing.

These are not only Temple priestesses but also clergy as the modern world understands that notion. Marrying and burying and everything in between. In fact, the week after this ordination, there’s a wedding to do. And I’m talking to old friends about a blessing for their grandson.

The pleasant ending of a year of work and exploration. A ceremony of transition for strong and wise women. A liminal place, a doorway through which they walk into a new and ancient world.

Excellent.

A Happy Mabon Blessing to All

With the fields empty of crops (having been harvested), it's time for Mabon - the mid-harvest festival of Pagans and Wiccans everywhere. Whether you're a town / city Pagan / Wiccan or a country one, this is a time to honor the second harvest and celebrate the changing of the seasons.

• 
• • The VudooMan
  • i-faith & i-life Magazine, Thursday 20 September 2012

Happy Mabon! (Photo credit: Fel ix_Nine).

The autumn equinox, is usually on nineth month between 20th and 22nd - and this year falls on September 22nd (in Northan Hemisphere, or March 22nd in Southern Hemisphere).

Winter Magick

Winter Magic

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The sounds of drums, calling forth winter…
The battle between the light and darkness wage its daily war in the hearts of all humans, as it has for thousands of years.
       -MoonShadow

Northern Light
In the Northern hemisphere, as the dark nights draw in -and the days shorten- our hearts turn towards the winter holidays. Call them whatever you feel appropriate, they are a time to dwell on the both life and death issues - as they always have been. We see the lessening of sun-hours and the lengthening of night's dark oppression and it depresses even the most civilised of us.

Colour Magick

Today we are going to talk about colour correspondent.

Some people may have had something similar done for them. (Ranking them as a Summer-, Autumn-, Winter- or Spring-person.) That isn’t what this is about!

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Colour
Magick

Each day of the week has its own corresponding colour, planet, and even hour. Colours are of major importance in both healing and magick: Frequently used in candle magick, crystal magick, flower magick (or hedgerow witchery), food magick (or kitchen witchery), and water magick.

Colours affect how we view thing, our feelings, and our energy flows (the chakras).

For all these things, the basic concept is the same. Each colour corresponds to certain focuses and qualities. And these can be tapped by tuning into the specific colour.


White
If you think about what white is associated with it helps you realise its best uses. Western weddings centre around this colour. We wrap babies in it. We snuggle in the light, and shy away from the dark. It is a colour for winter. White symbolises purity, innocence, the Goddess, and light. It is associated with the moon and Mondays.

Red
We use red for danger, anger and to represent life force (blood). It symbolises heat and is one of the colours of summer. Sexuality, passion and love all connect into red. It represents the Gods and power in general. Mars (planet and god) and Tuesdays both correlate with red.


Orange
The fruit, Oranges, and the sun are under this colour’s correspondences. So are physical and mental fertility (or creativity), the arts, joy, confidence, abundance and individuality. It’s day is Sunday (of course).


Yellow
Memory, concentration, logic, and learning are all increased by yellow. It rules commerce, medicine, skill, dexterity and messages (especially from the gods). Technology and communication are handled by this colour, and so is business and careers. Wednesday and Mercury are the focus for yellows.

Green
The earth, forests, trees, gardens, plants, herbs, and nature in general are all connected to green. It brings about harmony and peace, increases wealth, helps relationships and romance. Green is the colour of spring, money and the land, the heart and luck. Faeries and magick are also influenced by this colour. Its planet is Venus and its day is Friday.


Turquoise
(Hold aspects of both blue and green.) Music, dance, wisdom, experience, thoughts, feelings, compassion, and altruism all connect with turquoise. It is used to synthesise two different aspects (like home and work etc.) of life and keep them smoothly on a pace with each other. Turquoise has most effect on Thursdays or Fridays.


Blue
Protection, rules, judgement, and the sky (gods) are attached to the colour blue. It expands boundaries and possibilities, increases success and confidence, nobility, and optimism. Blue is used for prosperity, promotion, and to exploit prospects in business. When dealing with the law or officials then blue should be your colour of choice. It’s a problem-solver and encourages calm in crisis, and opens the mind’s eye. It’s the colour of winter and its day is Thursday.

Purple
(This includes lavender, indigo and violet.) Hidden knowledge, psychic ability, and spirituality are all ruled by purple. It’s the colour of the higher-self. It connects into astral travel and the aura (or astral field), and preventing nightmares. Its planet is Jupiter and its day is Friday.


Pink
Pink is the colour of emotions, and the heart’s sentiments. Relationships, friendship, affection, children and growth are all its aspects. It helps to mend emotions (through gentle sleep) and release childhood hurts/family wounds. Its planet is Venus (in her gentle mode) and the corresponding day is Friday.


Brown
Brown effects time and helps reclaims lost items. In magick, it’s used for household pets, or animals, for learning new skills and security. It connects to Mother Earth and earth spirits. It’s the colour of autumn. Its day is Saturday.


How to use colours 
By implementing the use for colours in your life you can employ that colour’s correspondences.

By using crystals of an appropriate colour to affect the auric field (which expands 3ft or a meter in all directions from your solar plexus) it is possible to implement changes – just by carrying crystals. (A rose quartz to heal the heart, for example.)

By wearing a colour, you implement the associations of that tint. (E.g. wearing white on a Monday connects you too the moon and the Goddess aspects.

By burning candles of a suitable colour (to correspond with needs), you can draw towards you whatever it is that can help in a matter. (A green candle for finances.)

In this way it is possible to take the matching properties of a colour AND MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!

That’s the essence of colour magick. So when you reach for a sweater -or a pair of socks- consider what you need for that day and pick a colour appropriate item.

Magic Time (Part 5)

Magic Time

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.: On Hallowe’en. Digital ID: 1587792 :.

by New York Public Library @  Flickr 

In this fifth (and last) article on Magick, we'll look at potential and viability.

We've talked over opportunities and the power of a positive mental attitude to bring to you whatever it is you wanted. Now we need to talk about the business of potential and how to market that potential.

Moon Cookies - Metaphysical Munchies

When you hear the phrase "food for the soul" do you too think of chicken soup and matzo balls? I'm not even Jewish, and yet it's there in my subconscious. It's comfort from within with a metaphysical twist. That's how you could describe this set of articles - comfort food with that metaphysical twist!

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Wiccan Moon Goddess

This time we will look at a Wiccan Sabbats and Esbats to find a magical morsel.

Within Wicca there are major Sabbats and the minor Esbats. The major connect to festivals on the wheel of the year (8 to be precise – the Wiccan year runs from Oct 31st through Oct 30th). These connect with the two equinox and the two solstice and four pagan festivals dotted in between. (they are: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon). Each of these majors have their own special foods to go along with each festival. And all individual groups have their own preferences.

Magic Time (Part 4)

Magic Time

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.: "Power of me" (Holding and controling fire by magick) :.

by D.A.K.Photography @  Flickr 

In this fourth article on Magick, we’ll build on what we already have - how to harness your personal needs.

Consider what your opportunities are. As I told you before, the universe will not do all the hard work for you. You have taken a move closer to what you want to gain, but that isn't enough for it to come to you. It takes a few little tweaks to make that happen.

More Lughnasadh Blessings

A blessed be to all on this 2nd Lughnasadh morning. May you reap the benefits this harvest time.

This is simply an update; a 'more thing to be thankful for' sort of thing. For my actual Lughnasadh Blessings for 2012 go here.

Yesterday I thanked the gods and goddesses for a lot of things that are good in my life but I did missed a few: Like, I'm grateful to be alive. (Found out this morning off s friend that someone I see most morning -and have talked to most jovially- has just undergone a quadruple bypass. She said he looked shocking, that he was being held-up by his wife. This was a tall, proud and fit man the last time I saw him a few week earlier. This is what reminded me how glad I am to be alive this morning.)

Magic Time (Part 3)

Magic Time

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In this third article on Magick, we’ll take a more in-depth look how to harness an individual's needs.

So consider where to go from here. It's no good sitting back on your laurels and expecting the universe to do all the hard work for you. It doesn’t work that way. You have to participate.

Magic Time (Part 2)

Magic Time

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In this second article on Magick, we will take a more in-depth look at Magick Today, and how it can be harnessed to an individual's needs.

"Magick is the Science of understanding oneself and one's conditions. It is the Art of applying that understanding in action."
       -Crowley, Magick in Theory and Practice
[Aleister Crowley (1990). New York: Magickal Childe Publishing. ISBN 1555217664.]

Magical Thinking
For most, magick isn't something they believe in. People will tell (those who do believe) that it is all in their mind. A figment of the imagination. A trick played on inferior intellects.

If this is true, then magick doesn’t exist. The problem is this, magick not only exists, it affects every person’s individual lives - whether we realise it or not.
Each time a child blows out a candle and makes a wish ... Each time a person looks up their horoscope in the papers, or carries a lucky charm ... Each time someone walks around a ladder, or spills salt and casts it over their left shoulder...

Magic Time (Part 1)

Magic Time

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What is Magic?
Magic is the practice of influencing the physical by sheer willpower.
Google has this to say

mag·ic/ˈmajik/

Noun:

• The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.

Adjective:

• Used in magic or working by magic; having or apparently having supernatural powers: "a magic wand".

Synonyms:

• noun. sorcery - enchantment - witchcraft - spell - witchery adjective. magical - enchanting

The centre of ancient wisdom, both written and oral.
What it isn't is new ...
It isn't hokum!
And it isn't nonsense, either!!

A prehistoric painting on one wall of the Magura Cave
(Image from ezinemark)

Where did it come from?
Magic is so old, that it's origins are back in the mists of time.
Prehistoric hunters would paint animals they intended to kill on cave walls; creating the first ever written spells.