By Bob Walsh
MidWinters Day is, according to the people who profess to
know such things, very likely the oldest seasonal festival. It is
still celebrated in it's original form (as opposed to Christmas, which
is a bastardized form, sorry Christians but it is) by a LOT of people on
the planet.
One of the
oldest forms is Alban Arthan, the Welsh celebration of the Light Of
Winter. The prehistoric monument Newgrange, built in Ireland about 5500
years ago (and therefore older than Stonehenge) celebrates the Winter
Solstice. On MidWinters Day the morning sun shines directly into the
chamber thru the stone passageway into the mound.
MidWinters
Day is symbolic of the light overcoming the darkness. The mythos
surrounding saviors has a strong tendency to have them born on or around
MidWinters day, of vague parentage and in humble surroundings. Caves
and barns are favored in these stories. Joshua ben Joseph was by far
NOT the first of these.
Enjoy
the celebration. Us pagans are very ecumenical and don't mind too much
that Christians stole our holiday. We would kind of like to get credit
for it, but that's OK. We are just happy that you don't burn us to
death any more.
Blessed be.
1 comment:
Being raised as a Texas Southern Baptist we celebrate Christmas. We also warmly greet each other everywhere but a liquor store or dance hall.
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