The Yulk Pagan Festibak is a traditional celebration that takes place during the winter months in a small village in northern Europe. The festival is a time for the community to come together and honor their pagan roots and celebrate the changing of the seasons. The festival begins with a ceremonial bonfire, which represents the power of the sun and its ability to bring warmth and light back into the world. People gather around the fire and sing traditional songs, while others perform dances and rituals to pay homage to the natural world. One of the central figures of the festival is the Yulk King, who is chosen each year by the community. The Yulk King wears a ceremonial crown made of evergreen branches and is believed to possess the spirit of the ancient pagan gods.
The most common version of the story is that Christians just took over the mid-winter celebration, known as Saturnalia (to the God Saturn), and in particular to the feast of of the Victorious Sun (Sol Invictus)—made an official religion by the emperor Aurelius in 274AD, but his feast day was November 18th.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been commemorated as early as the Shang dynasty 1600 1046 BC in China, when people celebrated their harvest during the autumn full moon. Osiris was murdered, the body cut up and spread around, and then later on stitched together again so that he could walk among the dead in the underworld.
The Yulk King wears a ceremonial crown made of evergreen branches and is believed to possess the spirit of the ancient pagan gods. It is believed that the Yulk King brings good fortune and prosperity to the village for the coming year. Throughout the festival, there are various activities and traditions that take place.
Yulk pagan festibak
With Christmas just around the corner, you may have started to see stories in the news, had conversations with friends, or seen internet memes popping up on your feed suggesting that Christmas, Jesus, the Virgin Birth and all other things related to the season, are simply Pagan celebrations that have been given a light dusting of Christian snow. The subtext is that Christmas is “just” a rebranded pagan festival.
Next time you come across this, give the gift of knowledge, because it turns out that none of the many versions of this objection has any substantial basis in fact. These claims are “factoids” that have become widely believed because they have been repeated so often. So when you see them, please:
• Don’t be intimidated. There is absolutely no reasonable basis for any of these suggestions.
• Try to use the opportunity constructively. Rather than trading blows with the fake news purveyors, to approach the conversation in a constructive manner. Ask questions that reveal the basis of what they are saying, and the conclusions they are drawing from it:
“Oh, that’s interesting. When did that happen?”
“So can you help me understand what conclusion you’re drawing from that?”
“Help me out, I don’t know much about Saturnalia or Sol Invictus—what are the similarities between them and Jesus?”
The irony, as with many of the people who troll this kind of material around, is that they are blindly accepting—without evidence—half-baked lies and rumours because it makes them feel good. This is the very thing many of them accuse Christians of doing about belief in God. Here are some pointers on three versions of this objection.
1. “Christmas is just a rebranding of the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Sol Invictus"
The most common version of the story is that Christians just took over the mid-winter celebration, known as Saturnalia (to the God Saturn), and in particular to the feast of of the Victorious Sun (Sol Invictus)—made an official religion by the emperor Aurelius in 274AD, but his feast day was November 18th.
The early Christians were not really bothered about celebrating Christmas. There was no biblical command to do so, and no date given. But by the 4th century, when heresies were growing that Jesus was more of a “spiritual” incarnation than a physical one, the remembrance and celebration of Jesus' physical birth became more important to underline the truth of the incarnation. In all likelihood, the 25th December was chosen as being 9 months after the date of his death, as some commentators believed that it seemed neat and orderly to think that Jesus was conceived and died on the same date.
The earliest reference to the 25th December as the celebration of the birth of Christ is from 336AD, in the reign of Constantine. The first mention of the same date being used to celebrate the victorious sun god is AD354, almost 20 years afterwards. So if anything, the evidence seems to suggest that it is the other way around. Sol Invictus tried to muscle in on the Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus.
2. “Jesus is just a re-telling of the Mithras myth"
Some people claim that there are all kinds of parallels between the myth of Mithras—a popular Roman mystery religion—and the life of Jesus. They say that Mithras was born on the 25th December; worshipped by shepherds, had 12 disciples, performed miracles, was killed and rose three days later, etc., etc.
It would be shocking and quite faith shaking… if any of it were true. But none of these things is an accurate description of the Mithras myth. Quite literally, none … of … it.
3. "OK then, what about the Egyptian God Osiris who died and rose again…?"
Not even close. Sure there are some areas of vague coincidence. Osiris was murdered, the body cut up and spread around, and then later on stitched together again so that he could walk among the dead in the underworld. But that is a world away from saying he died and rose again on the third day. Other claimed similarities are equally thin.
Pressing home the point
Even if some of these correspondences between Jesus and other ancient myths were true, this is the opportunity to move the conversation onto more fruitful ground.
"Osiris, Mithras and Sol Invictus are no longer worshipped. Jesus is. Why do you think that is?"
The answer is because, unlike Jesus, the former three are stories with no basis in fact, or any real solid historical evidence to support them. Christians believe in Jesus not because they wish he were true, but because of the wealth of eyewitness evidence, and the historical soundness of his claims. And that’s why, even if it were true that there were similarities of date or detail, Christians would happily and without conscience put Christmas day on the same date. Because it is replacing a made-up story about a "No-God”, with a compelling true story with ample historical evidence of the one true God, revealed in Jesus.
It may be the right moment to press on and ask the telling question:
“Are you saying these things, or sharing them, because, deep down, you just wish they were true?” Oh the irony, the irony…
Have a Happy Christmas.
*I’m grateful to the excellent article on this by Glenn Peoples on his blog Right Reason
Tim Thornborough
Tim Thornborough is the founder and Publishing Director of The Good Book Company. He is series editor of Explore Bible-reading notes, the author of The Very Best Bible Stories series, and has contributed to many books published by The Good Book Company and others. Tim is married to Kathy and has three adult daughters.
About
Customer Service
- Contact Us
- Returns & Refunds
- Shipping & Delivery
- Permissions & Copyright
- Retail Policy
- Rights & Translations
- Reviewer Program
- Help
These include feasting on traditional foods such as roasted meats, root vegetables, and mulled wine. There are also games and competitions for both children and adults, including traditional Norse sports such as axe-throwing and log-rolling. One of the highlights of the festival is the Yulk Parade, where villagers dress in elaborate costumes and march through the streets, carrying torches and singing songs. The parade symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and the rebirth of the sun. The Yulk Pagan Festibak is not just a celebration of pagan traditions, but also a time for the community to come together and strengthen their bonds. It is a time for sharing stories, laughter, and joy with loved ones and neighbors. Overall, the Yulk Pagan Festibak is a vibrant and lively celebration that honors the ancient pagan traditions and brings the community together in a spirit of unity and merriment. It is a reminder of the importance of honoring our roots and staying connected to the natural world. The festival continues to be celebrated each year, keeping the pagan traditions alive for generations to come..
Reviews for "The Meaning of Sacred Symbols in the Yulk Pagan Festibak"
1. Sarah - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with Yulk Pagan Festibak. The festival advertised itself as a celebration of ancient pagan traditions, but it felt more like a cheap carnival. The performers lacked any kind of skill or authenticity, and the activities were nothing more than silly games and mediocre food stalls. The organizers clearly didn't put much effort into creating a genuine pagan experience. Save your money and look for a more authentic festival elsewhere.
2. Mark - 2/5 - Yulk Pagan Festibak was a letdown for me. The event was overcrowded and lacked any real organization or structure. The lineup of performers was unimpressive, and the few that did catch my attention had subpar performances. The vendors were overpriced, and the food options were limited. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time and money attending this festival. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic pagan experience.
3. Emma - 2/5 - I had high expectations for Yulk Pagan Festibak, but unfortunately, it fell short. The festival had a promising concept, but the execution was poor. The entertainment was lackluster, and there was a lack of diversity in the performances. The event also lacked educational opportunities to learn about pagan traditions and rituals. It felt more like a commercialized and watered-down version of what a true pagan festival should be. I left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.