Paganism: Traditions we use today By Katie

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

Halloween The celebration of summers end on October 31 st 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

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

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

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