The "Season"
Dec. 16th, 2011 01:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angeliquemb9I always find it interesting around this time of year as Pagans argue that Christians have taken over their holy days, and Christians argue that Christ is the "reason for the season." Both are wrong, and it's pretty easy that if each would set aside their pre-conceived notions, they both have holy days of their own, in close proximity to one another.
Pagans celebrate Yule, the acknowledgment of the changing of the seasons, the return of the light, the time to prepare for the coming planting. This is a fairly easily recognized day, governed by the moon and sun, at the winter solstice. Now while both Pagans and Christians share some of the same symbols - the meanings for the symbols are different for the two (or rather more, since Pagan is an umbrella term), and really don't have anything to do with one another.
Symbols, by their nature, mean something to the people who have assigned meaning to the symbol. Language means something because we have given a value to the letters. Numbers are the same. But let's take a fairly easily recognized symbol that is used by many cultures - the trinity knot or triskelle. Obviously, the symbol will have something to do with the number 3, as that is part of its nature. However, exactly what the symbol is to mean is assigned by the person viewing it. To many Christians, it is a symbol of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Ghost. To some, when the point is down, it is a simple drawing of an angel. To many Pagans, the symbol is for the stages of life, generally referred to in the feminine as Mother, Maiden and Crone. What's the origin of this obviously Celtic knot? It was a knot that fit easily into a corner in the Book of Kells. It wasn't originally assigned a meaning.
So, let's go to what Christmas means for Christians - it is representative of the Birth of the Christ Child, the Light of the World. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but birthdays are generally celebrated the one day they occur, not several months that our modern secular world has provided us. Whether Christ was born at Christmas time or in the summer time really doesn't matter, as the Christian Church has assigned a date to celebrate the birth of Christ, and it's commonly agreed to. Did they have an ulterior motive when they assigned the date? Do we care?
So then, we add in the traditions of St. Nicholas. Now, if you look at several European countries, St. Nicholas day is celebrated separately from Christmas, on December 5. In Austria, they have traditions which make some sense of the naughty/nice lists, the coal/fruit gifting. The night before December 5, the Krampus, a local mountain demon comes to seek out the naughty children, gift them with coal, and provide the parents a reason to remind their children "You better watch out". Santa Clause arrives the next day to gift the nice children with fruits and nuts and candy. However, in those countries, Santa Clause and Christmas are two separate things. Gifting at Christ's birthday is a recognition of the Christ spirit in each of us, and giving a gift in celebration of that birth. Having grown up in Germany, I rather enjoy this separation of holidays in this way.
I guess the other thing I have difficulty with is - Christmas is definitely a holy day, but Easter is actually the more important holy day in the Church. It is the basis on which Christians believe - because without the resurrection, the Faith has no foundation. Easter has a "season" if you will, as it is prefaced with the season of Lent. It causes all of us to think about why Christ died, and our contribution to His place on the cross.
Now lastly, this whole thing about Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Blessed Yule greetings - a friend of mine put it (well, borrowed it) best:
Pagans celebrate Yule, the acknowledgment of the changing of the seasons, the return of the light, the time to prepare for the coming planting. This is a fairly easily recognized day, governed by the moon and sun, at the winter solstice. Now while both Pagans and Christians share some of the same symbols - the meanings for the symbols are different for the two (or rather more, since Pagan is an umbrella term), and really don't have anything to do with one another.
Symbols, by their nature, mean something to the people who have assigned meaning to the symbol. Language means something because we have given a value to the letters. Numbers are the same. But let's take a fairly easily recognized symbol that is used by many cultures - the trinity knot or triskelle. Obviously, the symbol will have something to do with the number 3, as that is part of its nature. However, exactly what the symbol is to mean is assigned by the person viewing it. To many Christians, it is a symbol of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Ghost. To some, when the point is down, it is a simple drawing of an angel. To many Pagans, the symbol is for the stages of life, generally referred to in the feminine as Mother, Maiden and Crone. What's the origin of this obviously Celtic knot? It was a knot that fit easily into a corner in the Book of Kells. It wasn't originally assigned a meaning.
So, let's go to what Christmas means for Christians - it is representative of the Birth of the Christ Child, the Light of the World. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but birthdays are generally celebrated the one day they occur, not several months that our modern secular world has provided us. Whether Christ was born at Christmas time or in the summer time really doesn't matter, as the Christian Church has assigned a date to celebrate the birth of Christ, and it's commonly agreed to. Did they have an ulterior motive when they assigned the date? Do we care?
So then, we add in the traditions of St. Nicholas. Now, if you look at several European countries, St. Nicholas day is celebrated separately from Christmas, on December 5. In Austria, they have traditions which make some sense of the naughty/nice lists, the coal/fruit gifting. The night before December 5, the Krampus, a local mountain demon comes to seek out the naughty children, gift them with coal, and provide the parents a reason to remind their children "You better watch out". Santa Clause arrives the next day to gift the nice children with fruits and nuts and candy. However, in those countries, Santa Clause and Christmas are two separate things. Gifting at Christ's birthday is a recognition of the Christ spirit in each of us, and giving a gift in celebration of that birth. Having grown up in Germany, I rather enjoy this separation of holidays in this way.
I guess the other thing I have difficulty with is - Christmas is definitely a holy day, but Easter is actually the more important holy day in the Church. It is the basis on which Christians believe - because without the resurrection, the Faith has no foundation. Easter has a "season" if you will, as it is prefaced with the season of Lent. It causes all of us to think about why Christ died, and our contribution to His place on the cross.
Now lastly, this whole thing about Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Blessed Yule greetings - a friend of mine put it (well, borrowed it) best:
"I have friends from all walks of life. Christian, Pagan, Native American, Jewish, Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Muslim and so on and so on. I don't care what religion you are. If you wish me a Merry Christmas, I will wish you one right back, heartfelt and true. If you wish me a Blessed Yule, I will say it... right back and mean it. I refuse to get upset over HOW you wish me a happy season. The fact that you took the time to wish me joy is all that matters to me. Love and joy and laughter and companionship and friendship is what's important. (borrowed from Andrea 'Skye' Drake Stephan)"
So no matter how or what you celebrate at this time of year, or if you celebrate them all, Have a blessed time. :)
So no matter how or what you celebrate at this time of year, or if you celebrate them all, Have a blessed time. :)
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