What Is Your Practice?

December solstice and Christmas. In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. However, it’s believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in synchronization with the December solstice because from that point onwards, the days began to have more daylight in the Northern Hemisphere.[1]

Christmas is also referred to as Yule, which may have derived from the Norse word jól, referring to the pre-Christian winter solstice festival. Yule is also known as Alban Arthan and was one of the “Lesser Sabbats” of the Wiccan year in a time when ancient believers celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and days with more light. This took place annually around the time of the December solstice and lasted for 12 days. The Lesser Sabbats fall on the solstices and equinoxes.[2]

The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world…The ancient Romans also held a festival to celebrate the rebirth of the year. Saturnalia ran for seven days from the 17th of December. It was a time when the ordinary rules were turned upside down. Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions and giving presents…The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing…It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the yule log. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year…Many of these customs are still followed today. They have been incorporated into the Christian and secular celebrations of Christmas.[3]

Interestingly, many are unknowingly celebrating winter solstice rather than the birth of Christ. Yet, some KNOWINGLY are deceiving Christians into accepting the pagan practice of the winter solstice. “For the 34th year in a row, saxophonist Paul Winter presents his Winter Solstice Celebration, a festive performance marking the year’s longest night and the return of the sun. Since 1980, the concert has drawn thousands of visitors annually to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan. WNYC’s John Schaefer hosts NPR’s broadcast.”[4] I find it strange that a church would allow this pagan practice for 34 years.

What are you celebrating? What is your practice? Are you decorating your house, lighting candles and holding processions like the pagans of old? Are you cut the mistletoe like the Druids priest? Or, are you using the Yule log as did the pagan Celtics? It might be time for Christians to check themselves and see exactly who their God is.

What are you celebrating and who are you praising?

Blessings from Pastor David M Ephraim

 

[1] http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice-customs.html

[2] ibid

[3] http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/wintersolstice.shtml

[4] http://www.npr.org/2014/12/08/367242990/a-paul-winter-solstice-concert-2014

Leave a Reply