Ho Ho Ho! Happy Holidays!
The holiday season has a history that goes back a very long way. It’s said that Constantine adopted Christianity, then integrated it with other popular celebrations to gain wider acceptance. That continued as it spread.
Celebrations often began around the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year when the sun seems to stand still. Stonehenge marks it. In N and W Europe, they knew the solstice as Yule or Jul.
Yule’s eve was known in parts of Scandinavia as Mother’s Night (Freya, the Pear Tree) with Yule celebrated as Daughter’s Day (Sunna, known as Sophia or Eve in other areas)(Transcendent mother, manifest daughter).
A few days later, the Sun visibly begins to rise again in the sky. We celebrate Christmas eve and day in a similar pattern. Transcendent Father’s night and manifest Son’s Day (Jesus, Emmanuel).
Similarly, the 12 days of Christmas. Originally the first day was the Solstice, the 5th day Christmas (gold rings), and the 12th day New Year.
Many of our celebratory details come out of the Yule traditions, like feasting, bringing a tree indoors and decorating it, elves, flying reindeer, Yule logs, carols, mistletoe, jingle bells, and more.
Gift-giving Santa is more recent, based on a 4th century bishop, St Nicholas. However, Santa also picked up elements of the Germanic Wodan and those elves and flying reindeer.
Drawing together many traditions, we celebrate our rebirth and the coming of another year.
Have a very festive season!
Davidya
The best thing about the holidays: Presence! 🙂
Ho Ho Ho!
A Happy Christmas Davidya and to all the readers of your Blog.
Thanks, Anne. Best of the season to you and yours.
Thank you for such a wonderful blog and all the incredible videos. So much depth and wisdom to unpack while offering such a tremendous selfless service to the community that follows along. Much gratitude and appreciation. Have a great holiday season blessed with radiant health and joy.
Thanks, TC. The art is in getting out of the way so that what is here can flow through unimpeded.
Blessings!
A blessed and festive Yuletide to you and yours Davidya; thank you for your integrity and the gift of knowledge you keep giving the world.
Eira
To you also, Eira. The key with gifts given is to share them so they grow.