Paganism: Traditions we use today

1. Paganism: Traditions we use today By Katie

2. Easter • Named from the goddess Eastre – Mother goddess of spring, dawn, and fertility • Rabbits and eggs are a symbol of fertility • Eggs were painted bright colors and given as gifts – Easter eggs • Egg hunts started in Europe during the rise of Christianity and the shunning of the followers of paganism • Shaping Easter eggs and bunnies out of candy to celebrate the spring festival was a way to honor the symbols of the goddess and the season, while taking the strengths of the symbols such as strength, vitality, and fertility • One story claims that the goddess saved a bird whose wings were frozen by the snow, she turned him into a snow hare with incredible speed to escape his foes, as he was once a bird, she also gave him the ability to lay eggs. –The Easter bunny

3. Halloween • The celebration of summers end on October 31st for the Celtics • On that day, clans or local villages lit a giant bonfire, villagers would gather around the bonfire to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the gods and goddess’. • This was a method of giving the gods a share of the years crops and herd • During the celebration, Celts would dress in costumes and dance around the bonfire, these dances told stories or played out the cycle of life and death. • Costumes were also wore for three primary reasons: 1) To honor the dead who were allowed to rise form the otherworld and into the physical world to take on their next incarnations • Not all souls were respected, as they were thought to come to the physical world to destroy crops, hide livestock or “haunt” the living who may have done them wrong. • 2) Costumes were also used to hide form these spirits and escape their trickery

4. Halloween continued • The colors black and orange- • Black represents the time of darkness between The sun god, Mithras’ death and rebirth • Orange represents the waiting of the dawn when the god is reborn in the winter • Jack O’lanterns • One story says it was originated from the lighting of candles for the dead to follow as they walked the Earth, • These candle were placed in hollowed out gourds and put in the ground to light the way • Trick or treating • Originated somewhat from leaving cookies and other foods for relatives in front of their door

5. Christmas • Pagans of Europe held their winter solstice, called Yule • Yule was symbolic to the pagan sun god, Mithras, being born • Customary to light a candle to encourage him and the sun to come again next the next year • Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun • “Yule” means “Wheel”, as the wheel is the pagan symbol for sun • Christmas caroling started from a group of costumed singers and dancers (Called mummers) who would go house to house entertaining their neighbors • Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual • Holly berries considered to be food of the gods • Live evergreen trees were brought into homes for the winter to remind the inhabitants that their crops would soon grow again. • Druids used the trees as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping the trees. • Also, during the celebrations, they would make vows for the following year, giving us the tradition of New years resolutions

6. Sources • Goddessgift.com/Pandora’s_Box/Easter-history.htm -Easter • Paganspath.com/magik/samhain-history.htm – Halloween • Essortment.com/christmas-pagan-origins-42543.htm - Christmas