Pagan holidays are still celebrated today, although the way they are observed may differ from their original practices. These holidays originated in various ancient pagan cultures and were an important part of their religious and cultural beliefs. Today, many people who identify as pagan or follow pagan traditions still observe these holidays as a way to connect with nature and celebrate their spirituality. One widely recognized pagan holiday is Samhain, also known as Halloween. Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. It is believed to be a time when the veil between the spirit world and the physical world is thinnest, allowing for communication with ancestors and spirits.
*Inserts the sounds of cheering in my own weary head.*
Sorry for my absence but when life calls in my world, it pulls a caveman grabs me by the hair and drags me back to the cave threatening to feed me to the Raptors if I don t give things my full attention. That being said, while I haven t given up on Writing or anything else, it has fallen at the bottom of my slush pile, of things to do only AFTER everything else is done.
It is believed to be a time when the veil between the spirit world and the physical world is thinnest, allowing for communication with ancestors and spirits. Many pagans celebrate Samhain by holding rituals, honoring their ancestors, and participating in festivities such as costume parties and bonfires. Another significant pagan holiday is Yule, which takes place around the winter solstice.
Ancient Calendar & Pagan Holidays
If you are a Historian, lover of History, obsessed with Myths & Lore, or simply desiring to know more about Pagan Holidays or Ancient Cultures, then this just may be the column for you.
Every daily article is filled with information concerning various places of ancient origin, such as Rome, Greece, Egypt, Babylon and more. Every day I try to include some special tidbit from various cultures like the long but never forgotten, Norse.
Not every culture celebrated something daily, but for those who did, I will list everything and anything I can find concerning them.
Please Note: My hope is to post “daily” but sometimes life gets in the way. I usually backtrack and fill in where I left off, though, when time permits. My goal is to have an entire year done so that these articles can be accessed again and again and again. Next year, when the Calendar is complete, who knows what else I’ll get into. *winks*
New Articles will be listed here:
All articles by Casey Harris (C.H. SCARLETT)
Other Articles written by myself and others can be found here:
I wanted to give you an update concerning The Ancient Calendar & Pagan Holiday Column. I have it up and going again. Sorry for my absence but when life calls in my world, it pulls a caveman– grabs me by the hair and drags me back to the cave threatening to feed me to the Raptors if I don’t give things my full attention. While I would love to dive back into writing full-time including my Blogs, unfortunately, it’s like wishing to win the lottery. I know some of you found a way to juggle weekly paying Careers, Writing, Kids, Spouses, etc, but I unfortunately have not. Something gets sacrificed and while I’d be okay with that if it was just me, it’s not. It’s usually my responsibilities as a Mom, as a Wife, as a Caretaker to my mini-farm and my job — that actually allows me to pay a few bills here or there, lol.
When my oldest graduated High School and moved away, one of my biggest regrets was, how many hours did I rob from him trying to hammer out a novel, which would never pay for college or even the wear and tear of my computer? I have two more and I am trying to correct my guilt ridden mistake. You know Moms are always trying to improve ourselves.
That being said, while I haven’t given up on Writing or anything else, it has fallen at the bottom of my slush pile, of things to do only AFTER everything else is done. Well, EVERYTHING ELSE or that big list was at an all-time high these past few months and while I won’t go into After School Actitivites or how much I wanna scream when I see Paint Cans and Brushes, I will say, I have found away to buy some time to muster up the Calendar Column at least and get that all going again.
*Inserts the sounds of cheering in my own weary head.*
My goal for the Calendar is to get an entire Year completed so that next year, I can focus on other articles. All a reader has to do at any given time is move their mouse over the Menu to the left of us. Find the Month and the Day and then whalla! You have an Ancient Holiday. Over time, if there are any rituals or what not’s added, that too will be added like so….
This is the goal….
All that being said, sometimes Life, the Caveman, will drag me away but rest assured, I’ll be back until we can get an entire year lined up. And sometimes, it takes me a bit to arrange it on the menu, like the pic above…but I will…eventually.
Thanks for understanding….
New Articles will be listed here:
Yule celebrates the rebirth of the sun and the return of light after the darkest day of the year. It is a time for reflection, renewal, and setting intentions for the upcoming year. Pagan celebrations of Yule often involve lighting candles or a Yule log, decorating evergreen trees, and sharing feasts with loved ones. Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, is a pagan holiday that celebrates the first signs of spring. It is a time for purification, cleansing, and honoring the goddess Brigid. Many pagans celebrate Imbolc by lighting candles, making and sharing foods such as Brigid's crosses or dairy-based dishes, and performing rituals to welcome the returning light and the coming of spring. Beltane is a pagan holiday that takes place around May 1st and celebrates the arrival of summer. It is a time of fertility, abundance, and joy. Pagan celebrations of Beltane often involve dancing around a maypole, making flower garlands, and participating in outdoor rituals and feasts. Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is a pagan holiday that celebrates the first harvest of the year. It is a time to give thanks for the abundance of the earth and to reflect on the cycle of life and death. Many pagans celebrate Lughnasadh by holding feasts, making and sharing bread, and participating in rituals that honor the agricultural and harvest themes of the holiday. These are just a few examples of pagan holidays that are still celebrated today. While the specific practices and beliefs associated with these holidays may vary among different pagan traditions, they all share a common reverence for nature, the changing seasons, and the spiritual significance of these moments in the annual cycle..
Reviews for "Pagan Celebrations vs. Mainstream Holidays: Finding Balance in Today's World"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - As someone who enjoys learning about different cultural practices and traditions, I was disappointed with "Pagan Holidays Today." The book lacked depth and seemed to just scratch the surface of various pagan holidays without providing any substantial information. The author failed to offer proper historical context or explain the significance of these celebrations. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacking in enthusiasm, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone interested in truly understanding pagan holidays.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Pagan Holidays Today" was a complete letdown. The author's bias was evident throughout the book, as they seemed to demonize pagan practices rather than provide an objective analysis. I expected a balanced exploration of different pagan holidays, but instead, I was met with a judgmental tone that made me question the author's intentions. Furthermore, the organization of the book was confusing, with little flow between the chapters. The lack of a cohesive structure made it difficult to follow along and understand the purpose of each chapter. Save your time and money - this book is not worth it.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was hoping to learn more about modern pagan holidays, but "Pagan Holidays Today" failed to deliver. The content felt shallow and lacking in substance. The book mostly focused on surface-level explanations of each holiday, without delving into the deeper meanings and practices associated with them. It seemed as though the author only scratched the surface and didn't provide the in-depth exploration I was hoping for. Overall, this book left me unsatisfied and looking for a more comprehensive resource on the topic.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - I found "Pagan Holidays Today" to be poorly researched and filled with misinformation. The author seemed more interested in promoting their own biased views rather than providing accurate information on pagan holidays. It's evident that the author's lack of knowledge on the subject matter led to incorrect information and confusion. I would strongly advise readers to look elsewhere for a more reliable and well-researched book on pagan holidays.