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Description
So it's that time of year again when people are putting up their trees, lighting menorahs, and fasting during daylight hours. Oh... wait...

A Lesson Yule Remember

It happens every December, you start hearing a lot of friendly holiday salutations, and equally as much, you start to see or hear arguments over what to say. A lot of people say “Happy Holidays” lately, which I find perfectly acceptable. A lot of people still say “Merry Christmas.” What I don't like, though, is that there are all these arguments about if it should be "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas." Some people think that the political correctness of “Happy Holidays” intrudes on their rights and religious beliefs as Catholics/Christians. But what about the rights of the Jewish Community or the Muslim Community? Heck, there's even Kwanza. All of these are celebrated around the same time, and all of them, even though mostly overshadowed by the ever-popular Christmas, are accounted for. There is one holiday that gets ignored, though, aside from a mention here or there in Christmas carols, and that's the Yule. Yes, the Yule.

Christians will tell you, with fiery eyes and blood pumping, that Christmas is the whole reason for this celebratory time of year, and it's the reason for the season, if you don't mind me rhyming. However they are either ignorant or choose to ignore the real reason. Christians are the least tolerant out there (next to extremists of any type of religion) and also the least respectful, as is shown by looking at the history of their namesake holiday, Christmas. Christmas is said to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus to a Virgin Mother in a stable, who grows up to be the Savior and Messiah that the world was waiting for to open the gates of Heaven for us all, meanwhile fighting and destroying evil as we know it. I'm pretty sure we're all familiar with the fairy tale. Strap in because here is where it gets bumpy:

The Pagans started it all, yes, the Pagans. If you remember, I mentioned he Yule above. Most people are surprised to find out that Yule is NOT simply another name for Christmas or for the holiday season. Yule is a holiday in and of itself; in fact, it's the original holiday. That's right, Yule came before Christmas and all of its other equivalents, because before people worshipped man-made gods, we worshiped Nature, and the sun, and light. The Yule is a Pagan festival of Light (sound familiar my Judeo friends?). It was celebrated halfway through the winter season when the sun finally started to set later, it marked the people's happiness over longer sunshine hours and the promise of a new growing season, ‘cause you know, we used to grow our own food and rely on our own skills. Crazy, right? The Yule celebration was typically observed on the primitive calendar's equivalent of December 21, and involved decorating an evergreen tree, which as we all know, is the only greenery you will see in the winter. Also a part of the Yule celebration is the incorporation of the colors red and green, observation of the stars, and hanging boughs and mistletoe. Sounds a lot like Christmas decorations, doesn't it? I knew you were smart enough to figure that out! Good job!

Here's what happened: Pagan tribes around the world generally celebrated this around the same time and in the same ways. Some time later the whole Jesus thing happened, and as missionaries headed up to Germany, they met up with Germanic Pagan tribes. After seeing how dedicated they were to their customs and traditions, the Christian missionaries decided that rather than trying to tell these people they were wrong to convert them, they would simply reinterpret their beliefs and customs to fit those of Christianity, resulting in Christians having evergreen trees decorated in their homes with red and green ornaments--originally, then eventually spiraling out to incorporate other colors--hanging boughs, using mistletoe, etc., etc. The star atop the tree is said to symbolize the star that led the wise men to the manger, while in fact, the Pagans were largely into astrology. Even if the wise men and Jesus did actually exist, it's believed by some people that these wise men were just astrologers following the stars. Either way, it was taken out of context for the purpose of converting non-believers. The giving of gifts that is said to be in the tradition of these wise men actually already existed during the Yule, when people would give each other small tokens of their appreciation for one another, during a time when food and supplies were scarce (it's winter, after all), really making it a sign of love and self-sacrifice. (Are you seeing how these themes are intertwining here?)

Not good enough? How about the traditional Christmas Ham that most people eat on Christmas day with their families? Jesus was Jewish, Jews are not allowed to eat pork, so where did the ham come in? The Pagans, of course. The Yule celebration dinner involved the sacrifice of a boar, which was then eaten by the tribe, in order to show respect for the death of the innocent animal. Primal? Yes. Looked down upon by "civilized" people? Yes. Stolen by those people and used in a more socially acceptable manner? Absolutely. Hey, when you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Let's also mention that the celebration of the Yule coincided with the Winter Solstice in most regions, which is the whole reason they celebrate the Yule; it's the returning of the light. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, "The light and the way." Again, attributing the reason for the celebration to a human figure that they felt should be worshipped instead.

While I'm on a roll here, let's look at the origin of words, shall we? Modern Christmas now incorporates "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," or Santa Claus, the mysterious gift-giver who comes down your chimney, fills your stockings with gifts, and leaves presents under the (it pains me to call it this) Christmas tree (it's a YULE tree, damn it!). Now, according to history, Saint Nicholas did, in fact, live, and he did, in fact, give gifts to people, although there are variations on his story. It generally involves him dropping purses of gold coins down a chimney, or filling up a woman's stockings with gold coins as she leaves them hanging over the embers of her fireplace to dry after washing them before bed. So Saint Nicholas, the historical figure, does, in fact, bear some resemblance to the fantastical Santa Claus of modern day. I'm not about to say it's a conspiracy to mimic some Pagan ritual of gift giving...no really, I'm honestly not! But, they call him "Jolly" old Saint Nicholas. Well now... another way to include the Yule. If you look up the word Jolly, you'll see if comes from the very same root as the word Yule. So, by rights, he should be called Saint Nicholas of the Yule, or the Yule's Saint Nicholas. But I understand that the Christians had him first and it's finder's keeper's and all that, and I'm fine with that, I just wish they'd extend the same consideration in the direction of the Pagans who they'd ripped most of their customs off of.

All I'm saying here is that Christmas is actually modeled after another celebration that even the Christians were afraid of trying to label as a lie. So instead they tied its traditions into their own holiday. Which would make their celebration seem faulty, wouldn't it? If something like the celebration of the birth of your SAVIOR can be so easily changed around and made to model someone else's holiday, well then it doesn't say much for your dedication to your own methods, does it? Historians, including the Catholic Church, have admitted for years now that the real birth of Jesus probably happened on a mountainside somewhere in mid-summer, so then why the obsession with the Winter? Like I said, they knew they had to fight with the Pagans, who had a pretty good thing already in place. And, by placing their holiday so close to that of the Pagans, they made it even easier for them to accept. It also seems that once we switched over to a Julian calendar, it just so happens that the date of the Yule celebration lands on December 25, rather than December 21. Now that could be a coincidence on either side of the table, but facts are facts.

The Christians are so worried about converting all these big bad sinners around the world, but yet if you look at some of the older churches, including the Vatican itself, you'll see they proudly display the 12 signs of the zodiac above the altar. Could this mean that they actually believe in astrology? Most modern Christians will tell you that astrology is evil because it attempts to tell the future, and only God knows what will happen, but then why does the cornerstone of their religion have it hanging above the most sacred of places, the altar? Probably because they know full well that if it weren't for the Pagans and their beliefs in astrology (which includes the sun, and we cycle around it), they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Oh, and by the way, most Christians will tell you that the Pentagram (or Pentacle) is an evil symbol of devil worship or witchcraft. Well if you're of that mindset, or even if you aren't, I want you to do this. Go to church, find a priest, preferably an older one who might have had time in his life to visit the Vatican and read the hidden books, and ask him if the Pentagram is a sign of evil or a symbol of the 5 wounds of Jesus Christ on the cross. He'll either tell you it's the latter, or be too embarrassed to admit that his religion tried at one time to also steal a harmless symbol for our interconnectedness with Nature and the powers of the natural world and make it yet another symbol of pain and misery to remind people what Jesus went through for your sins. Respect through fear, it's what they thrive on, it keeps the sheeple in line.

So, if you're still reading thus far, I'd like to wish you a warm holiday season and a Happy Yule. Oh, and for the record, I don't care what you believe or what you worship, as long as you're a good person and are at least educated on the basis of your beliefs.

Description
So it's that time of year again when people are putting up their trees, lighting menorahs, and fasting during daylight hours. Oh... wait...

A Lesson Yule Remember

It happens every December, you start hearing a lot of friendly holiday salutations, and equally as much, you start to see or hear arguments over what to say. A lot of people say “Happy Holidays” lately, which I find perfectly acceptable. A lot of people still say “Merry Christmas.” What I don't like, though, is that there are all these arguments about if it should be "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas." Some people think that the political correctness of “Happy Holidays” intrudes on their rights and religious beliefs as Catholics/Christians. But what about the rights of the Jewish Community or the Muslim Community? Heck, there's even Kwanza. All of these are celebrated around the same time, and all of them, even though mostly overshadowed by the ever-popular Christmas, are accounted for. There is one holiday that gets ignored, though, aside from a mention here or there in Christmas carols, and that's the Yule. Yes, the Yule.

Christians will tell you, with fiery eyes and blood pumping, that Christmas is the whole reason for this celebratory time of year, and it's the reason for the season, if you don't mind me rhyming. However they are either ignorant or choose to ignore the real reason. Christians are the least tolerant out there (next to extremists of any type of religion) and also the least respectful, as is shown by looking at the history of their namesake holiday, Christmas. Christmas is said to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus to a Virgin Mother in a stable, who grows up to be the Savior and Messiah that the world was waiting for to open the gates of Heaven for us all, meanwhile fighting and destroying evil as we know it. I'm pretty sure we're all familiar with the fairy tale. Strap in because here is where it gets bumpy:

The Pagans started it all, yes, the Pagans. If you remember, I mentioned he Yule above. Most people are surprised to find out that Yule is NOT simply another name for Christmas or for the holiday season. Yule is a holiday in and of itself; in fact, it's the original holiday. That's right, Yule came before Christmas and all of its other equivalents, because before people worshipped man-made gods, we worshiped Nature, and the sun, and light. The Yule is a Pagan festival of Light (sound familiar my Judeo friends?). It was celebrated halfway through the winter season when the sun finally started to set later, it marked the people's happiness over longer sunshine hours and the promise of a new growing season, ‘cause you know, we used to grow our own food and rely on our own skills. Crazy, right? The Yule celebration was typically observed on the primitive calendar's equivalent of December 21, and involved decorating an evergreen tree, which as we all know, is the only greenery you will see in the winter. Also a part of the Yule celebration is the incorporation of the colors red and green, observation of the stars, and hanging boughs and mistletoe. Sounds a lot like Christmas decorations, doesn't it? I knew you were smart enough to figure that out! Good job!

Here's what happened: Pagan tribes around the world generally celebrated this around the same time and in the same ways. Some time later the whole Jesus thing happened, and as missionaries headed up to Germany, they met up with Germanic Pagan tribes. After seeing how dedicated they were to their customs and traditions, the Christian missionaries decided that rather than trying to tell these people they were wrong to convert them, they would simply reinterpret their beliefs and customs to fit those of Christianity, resulting in Christians having evergreen trees decorated in their homes with red and green ornaments--originally, then eventually spiraling out to incorporate other colors--hanging boughs, using mistletoe, etc., etc. The star atop the tree is said to symbolize the star that led the wise men to the manger, while in fact, the Pagans were largely into astrology. Even if the wise men and Jesus did actually exist, it's believed by some people that these wise men were just astrologers following the stars. Either way, it was taken out of context for the purpose of converting non-believers. The giving of gifts that is said to be in the tradition of these wise men actually already existed during the Yule, when people would give each other small tokens of their appreciation for one another, during a time when food and supplies were scarce (it's winter, after all), really making it a sign of love and self-sacrifice. (Are you seeing how these themes are intertwining here?)

Not good enough? How about the traditional Christmas Ham that most people eat on Christmas day with their families? Jesus was Jewish, Jews are not allowed to eat pork, so where did the ham come in? The Pagans, of course. The Yule celebration dinner involved the sacrifice of a boar, which was then eaten by the tribe, in order to show respect for the death of the innocent animal. Primal? Yes. Looked down upon by "civilized" people? Yes. Stolen by those people and used in a more socially acceptable manner? Absolutely. Hey, when you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Let's also mention that the celebration of the Yule coincided with the Winter Solstice in most regions, which is the whole reason they celebrate the Yule; it's the returning of the light. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, "The light and the way." Again, attributing the reason for the celebration to a human figure that they felt should be worshipped instead.

While I'm on a roll here, let's look at the origin of words, shall we? Modern Christmas now incorporates "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," or Santa Claus, the mysterious gift-giver who comes down your chimney, fills your stockings with gifts, and leaves presents under the (it pains me to call it this) Christmas tree (it's a YULE tree, damn it!). Now, according to history, Saint Nicholas did, in fact, live, and he did, in fact, give gifts to people, although there are variations on his story. It generally involves him dropping purses of gold coins down a chimney, or filling up a woman's stockings with gold coins as she leaves them hanging over the embers of her fireplace to dry after washing them before bed. So Saint Nicholas, the historical figure, does, in fact, bear some resemblance to the fantastical Santa Claus of modern day. I'm not about to say it's a conspiracy to mimic some Pagan ritual of gift giving...no really, I'm honestly not! But, they call him "Jolly" old Saint Nicholas. Well now... another way to include the Yule. If you look up the word Jolly, you'll see if comes from the very same root as the word Yule. So, by rights, he should be called Saint Nicholas of the Yule, or the Yule's Saint Nicholas. But I understand that the Christians had him first and it's finder's keeper's and all that, and I'm fine with that, I just wish they'd extend the same consideration in the direction of the Pagans who they'd ripped most of their customs off of.

All I'm saying here is that Christmas is actually modeled after another celebration that even the Christians were afraid of trying to label as a lie. So instead they tied its traditions into their own holiday. Which would make their celebration seem faulty, wouldn't it? If something like the celebration of the birth of your SAVIOR can be so easily changed around and made to model someone else's holiday, well then it doesn't say much for your dedication to your own methods, does it? Historians, including the Catholic Church, have admitted for years now that the real birth of Jesus probably happened on a mountainside somewhere in mid-summer, so then why the obsession with the Winter? Like I said, they knew they had to fight with the Pagans, who had a pretty good thing already in place. And, by placing their holiday so close to that of the Pagans, they made it even easier for them to accept. It also seems that once we switched over to a Julian calendar, it just so happens that the date of the Yule celebration lands on December 25, rather than December 21. Now that could be a coincidence on either side of the table, but facts are facts.

The Christians are so worried about converting all these big bad sinners around the world, but yet if you look at some of the older churches, including the Vatican itself, you'll see they proudly display the 12 signs of the zodiac above the altar. Could this mean that they actually believe in astrology? Most modern Christians will tell you that astrology is evil because it attempts to tell the future, and only God knows what will happen, but then why does the cornerstone of their religion have it hanging above the most sacred of places, the altar? Probably because they know full well that if it weren't for the Pagans and their beliefs in astrology (which includes the sun, and we cycle around it), they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Oh, and by the way, most Christians will tell you that the Pentagram (or Pentacle) is an evil symbol of devil worship or witchcraft. Well if you're of that mindset, or even if you aren't, I want you to do this. Go to church, find a priest, preferably an older one who might have had time in his life to visit the Vatican and read the hidden books, and ask him if the Pentagram is a sign of evil or a symbol of the 5 wounds of Jesus Christ on the cross. He'll either tell you it's the latter, or be too embarrassed to admit that his religion tried at one time to also steal a harmless symbol for our interconnectedness with Nature and the powers of the natural world and make it yet another symbol of pain and misery to remind people what Jesus went through for your sins. Respect through fear, it's what they thrive on, it keeps the sheeple in line.

So, if you're still reading thus far, I'd like to wish you a warm holiday season and a Happy Yule. Oh, and for the record, I don't care what you believe or what you worship, as long as you're a good person and are at least educated on the basis of your beliefs.