Long before Christmas, before the baby Jesus lay shivering to death in a cold manger, the Europeans celebrated the solstice with a Yule festival. It was Yuletide, it was a time to light a candle to celebrate the sun's return. Mistletoe was still green in the cold winters days. Kissing under the mistletoe was a fertility ritual, a way to get lucky and a way to remember new life and the return of longer days, green grass and good crops.
It was in 350 AD when Pope Julius I declared that Christ's birth would be celebrated on December 25. It really messed up the holiday season, what with the Yule and the Potlatch going on. The Romans had their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture.
So we have created this new holiday of Christmas to blot out the old pagan traditions and to support church dogma. A metaphor on top of a metaphor, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the light of the world and who will return to us one day. Rather than to celebrate the sun, the light of the world, which will return to us right about now.
The names of Santa's reindeer, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Wait, its not Donner, its Dunder. American's changed that, Dunder and Blitzen is German for thunder and lightening. It really does make more sense that way, but what's with Cupid and Vixen? Santa names a reindeer after the God of desire, affection and erotic love? Don't let that guy in the house or near the children! Vixen? A woman regarded as quarrelsome, shrewish, or malicious?
Rudolph was the creation of a Montgomery Wards Department store promotion in 1939. The authors brother-in-law wrote the song a few years later and the rest is history, made up, borrowed or stolen. America's primary contribution to the Yule holidays has been the twinkling Christmas lights. What began as a few lights decorating a tree in the front yard has become a billion dollar industry. Houses across Europe are now adorned with flashing, blinking, jangling lights.
Our Christmas gift to the world. It really does symbolize Christmas, because Christmas is as you keep it. Dancing round a Yule log or eating duck in a Chinese restaurant. You can hang pretzels from your tree or lights from your dormer, it doesn't matter, its as traditional as any Christmas ritual as long as you remember the true meaning of Christmas.
A year has past, another is beginning, forgive your debts and forgive the injuries against you. A new year is beginning, the sun in what ever form you choose to understand it as, is returning and new life is born. Give to show your greatness, and love to show your great kindness, and it shall be a traditional Christmas well kept.
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