For the Pagans on here

[Whickerman]

As a Pagan I'm often asked what I do at Xmas. Do you get this a lot, and do you feel the need to explain that Xmas started as a Pagan festival, about midwinter, birth of the sun god etc etc etc? Or do you keep away from that and just explain that our feast day is the solstice?

[tiggerblue10]

Can I answer this please even though I'm not a Pagan?

[naomi24]

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you do, Whicker?

[Whickerman]

Course you can tigger...!

Hi Naomi. For me I generally only get asked if someone's genuinely interested - and they're usually a close friend. Although I'm open about my religion i don't shout it from the rooftops as i feel that your beliefs should remain personal, and the only time i go outside that rule is when i'm chatting on a forum such as this. So, I usually give the latter answer, and in fact will only venture the rest of that info if (as has happened!) I get accused of usurping a Christian holiday to suit my own needs.

[Whickerman]

btw - the reason I posted the question is that I was asked this morning, and am just a curious bug ger by nature!

[B00]

Does that mean that whickerman that i shouldn't hold my breath expecting a prezzy from you then? :-(

[Whickerman]

Crikey no B00!

Actually, most of my family are Christian, and indeed as a Pagan I'm by nature a polytheist (albeit that my personal beliefs look at the nature of those gods, not just the face and names that we humans have given them). I buy and receive pressies, just like you, because not to would just seem miserable, and I LOVE a good party too!

Anyway, Santa seems not to be very discerning when it comes to religion. That said, i grew up with a Jehovah's Witness kid who never had a visit from Santa. That just seems wrong, but I'm happy to accept that I am for feeling that way.

Anything in particular you'd like?

[B00]

Oooo a pony, a sweetie factory, a diamond as big as me knuckle, cheese from the moon, real glass slippers...and....and...and....

Actually, all joking aside whickerman, I know nowt about Paganism (<<<that a word?) and wrongly assumed there'd be no prezzy giving.

So you do actually hold a celebration of some sort on the day then?

[Whickerman]

lol B00. I'd kept aside a pony for you, and wrapped it, but it stopped moving a few days ago.

We'll have our celebration on the 21st marking the midwinter solstice (Wiccans will also typically mark the rebirth of the sun god) and will have a religious ceremony followed by a knees up. And at Christmas we'll visit the family and pass out the gifts etc, same as most families. My daughter is too old for Santa now, but magic like that transcends most things.

[tiggerblue10]

Well, I was born into a non-practicing Muslim family but we celebrate Christmas with turkey and pressies etc, and we eat pork. When my grandparents came to live here in the 1950's they decided to follow the British way of life. I believe in the saying "when in Rome....". This is what angers me about Muslims coming to live over here these days.

Sorry if I am turning this into another religious rant but this is how I feel.

Even though I actually consider myself an atheist I am quite interested in Paganism and I would like to learn more about it.

[Whickerman]

Here's a good quote tigger, kind of a summing up:
"When one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she or he follows an earth or nature religion, one that sees the divine manifest in all creation. The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth is our temple, its plants and creatures our partners and teachers. We worship a deity that is both male and female, a mother Goddess and father God, who together created all that is, was, or will be. We respect life, cherish the free will of sentient beings, and accept the sacredness of all creation." Edain McCoy.

Modern Pagans are for the most part Wiccans, Druids, Asatru or like me, followers of animist/polytheist belief systems. It is against our religion to preach or convert by the way, that's why you've never had one on your doorstep!

[naomi24]

I'm so sorry, Whicker, my question was poorly phrased. I know what a pagan believes and I didn't intend to pry into your personal beliefs or religious practices. I meant what do you do as far as joining in with family and friends and buying presents, sending cards, etc, and you've answered that with B00's question . I have a friend who is pagan - she's a white witch - and although she doesn't have Christmas tree and decorations, and she doesn't send Christmas cards, she does join in with her family and friends generally by buying presents - and she loves a good party too. In fact, she's usually the life and soul of any party - until the demon drink gets the better of her!!

[Puddintane]

Do any of us know when any of our early ancesters were born? How about your great, great, great, great, great, great,
Grandfather. When was his birthday? What season was he born in? Does it matter? Your here so he must have existed. Christmas is only a day that was picked to celebrated the birth of Christ. It does not matter if it is correct or not. Just like your long ago Grandfather. Even though you do not know his birthday, you know he was born. If you choose to celebrate his birth pick a day.

[Oakleaf51]

Sounds like of old rubbish to me. You haven't got any scriptures for a start or revelation, just making it up as you go along. Are you lot called tree huggers as weell?

[brionon]

I do neither,I just get on with it. And yes some clowns who cannot countenance people with unconventional views call us Tree Huggers -a name I bear with pride.

[Pippa68]

You might want to see this thread, Whickerman? ;o)

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Que stion490894.html

[Ice.Maiden]

I'm also Pagan, but I'm not going to spout off about it. Whicker's given a very good description already. My children haven't been baptized into any faith, but I shall accept any they wish to follow. Christmas will be Christmas in our house. I don't think any faith - or lack of - should get in the way of people enjoying themselves. I shall also accompany my aged grandmother to church. I really haven't had anyone ask me what I do at Christmas, but if they ask, I shall say that my job is to make everyone happy and welcome.

[Hellyon]

I was going to say I am a non practising pagan but by that I mean I do not participate in any ceremonies but I live my life based on pagan belief system. We do celebrate 21st december or correctly 'Yule' by lighting candles and visiting close friends with a wassail bowl. We also make up our own customs such as keeping our christmas tree until the 2ist (ish) of June and burning it to 'release the apirit of christmas' but in actuality using the resulting ash as feed for the vegetables!
I asked a Hindu friend once how she celbrated Christmas she gave this jolly good answer ' the same way as everyone else does, family, food and presents, you don't have to be christian to do that!'

[Ice.Maiden]

And for those who wish to enjoy Christmas at all - isn't that exactly what we should all be doing? If people wish to celebrate it from a Christian point of view - then why not. If people don't want to be associated with it at all - then again, that's up to them. Beliefs should never stop people from simply doing what makes them and their families happy.