To me personally, the holidays have become too commercialized. I roll my eyes when each holiday approaches and it has no meaning to me. Why wait until this date to make it big when we could do this everyday for those who are unfortunate?

Who really need all the money, food and stuff? Certainly those who are poor and from the 3rd world — be it animals or humans. Instead, millions of dollars are spent on themselves and people who don’t need them.

It makes me wonder if the deafhood charisma has really gone to the grinches this time.

But what I am looking forward to more than naything else is seeing my nieces and nephews!! It’ll be great to see the little tots.

I’m currently in the middle of teaching an on-line course called “The Winter Solstice” in which we discuss the origins of today’s holiday celebrations, many of which harken back to Pagan times. It’s fascinating to see how many of those traditions we now celebrate did not in fact begin with Judaism or Christianity, but harken back to even older, more ancient times. (Many of these traditions are discussed in the beautiful book “The Winter Solstice” written by John Matthews, which I highly recommend for anyone who would like to learn more about this holiday season.)

The whole concept of celebrating this time of the year, the birth of the Holy Child, the Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, reindeer, etc. etc. - I can probably give you an ancient Pagan legend to explain it.

I too have put up decorations and a tree, and been asked why I would do so if I am Pagan. I find it a good opportunity to explain some of those origins, and how the Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is important and thus celebrated even by us so called “heathens.”

One of my fellow Pagans wrote a very nice blog about The Christmas Spirit on my own Pagan blog site in which she expresses many of the same feelings that Erin does - it seems the spirit of the season is rapidly disappearing, only to be replaced by this gross feeling of commercialism and “gimme gimme gimme.” I agree with her totally…this should be a time for thinking about friendship and fellowship.

By the way, RLM…I believe that the holiday you might be referring to is the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia…which was followed by the Kalends in January. Other festivals which were also celebrated around this time included those to honor the woodland goddess Strenia, and Bacchus - god of wine and revelry (from whom we get the festival of Bacchanalia).

However, I don’t believe this was consider the “Fall period.” In fact, Solstice was also known as Midwinter because it fell midway between Samhain (Halloween) which marked the beginning of the winter season, and Imbolc at the beginning of February, which marked the turning of the year towards Spring. I would be curious to know from what sources you have taken your understanding of these holidays.

In any case, thank you for the warm greetings, Erin. I wish you and yours a very happy holidays as well.

And if you get another comment about Scrooge, just smile and remember that in the end…Scrooge did end up understanding what the season truly means better than most of us - and kept the spirit of Christmas in his heart for the rest of his days.

Blessings,

Rev. Virginia L. Beach
“Ocean”

One of my friend mocked me for having the Xmas tree few years. He turned to me - “You are not a Christian. Why bother with Xmas decorations??”

Despite my atheist status, I always find myself amused with people engaging in holiday spirits.

No questions about handful of people go overboard with Christmas decorations.

Have you or others read the feature article in the Washington Post magazine how our Christmas celebration have been culitivated from the Romans celebrated in naked for the pagan holiday to the present “more conservative” kind of celebration?

I have been very familar with the history of major holidays from Halloween to Christmas to the New Year Celebration (Fall period during the Roman times) before reading the article in the Washington Post magazine anyway.

RLM