Pagan Holidays in the US

The three biggest holidays celebrated in the United States and that are paganistic in origin are Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. To the average person the first reaction to that statement is that the writer has made a bit mistake; Halloween maybe, but not the others. Yet all these holidays do indeed have their origins in the pagan world.

First a quick clarification pagan beliefs are any belief system or religion that has more than one God. Before Christianity all religions and beliefs except Judaism were paganistic. As Christianity began to spread and rulers like Constantine decided to make Christianity the "official" religion the old way were mixed with the new in order to help co hearse the population into accepting the new ideas and beliefs. As a result, citizens the world over, not just in the United States, celebrate these pagan rituals as their own.

The first of the holidays is Halloween. Originally termed All Hallows Eve it was a night where it was believed that the walls between the now and life beyond were thinner and spirits could travel between the two worlds. All Hallows Eve was the day before All Saints Day. For those who believed in All Hallows Eve it was a serious affair not the dress up, let's have a party, and get a bunch of candy affair seen across the United States on October 31 that we know today. All Hallows Eve was a night for worship and communication.

Christians have been taught to believe that Jesus was born on December 25. Over the centuries this has become a highly debated fact. For the deeply religious this is a non-contested fact that requires some serious worship. But for the rest of the population it is a time of merry making and gift giving. Christmas is a few days past the winter solstice the day when the days no longer grow shorter but turn and begin once more to grow longer. While many places have been experiencing the cold of winter for some time, December 21 is deemed the first day of winter on the calendar. Christmas means decorating trees, holly, yule logs, Santa, and presents; all of which are practices taken from pagan times and beliefs. A green tree is a sign of life and sacred to those who worship nature; as is the holly. The giving of gifts stems from offerings and sacrifices to the gods to bring back the warmer longer days. And Santa a jolly fat guy in a red suit - has evolved to the jolly bearded north dwelling fellow we know today; but he originally stemmed from Odin the Norse god.

The third holiday is one filled with contradictions in orgins and practice. Easter. For a Christian this is a solemn occasion. A death has occurred the death of Jesus. But for many Easter is another occasion for gifts and candy.

Ever wonder why Easter is the one major holiday that never occurs on the same day each year? That's because it is tied to spring and the moon the vernal equinox a time of renewal. For those who worship nature spring is a time for the renewal of life. The time of fertility rites. The rabbit is a creature who is prolific when it comes to procreation, and the egg is a symbol of new life are all a part of Easter because they are symbols of new life and rebirth which is the opposite of the Christian Easter.

The monotheistic world is often quick to condemn that which they do not believe in or like; but the symbols and beliefs from some of those same beliefs have become a major part of life and celebration today