Pagans, including Wiccans, Druids, and other nature-based spiritual practitioners, celebrate a variety of holidays throughout the year, often referred to as Pagan holidays or Sabbats. These holidays are aligned with the changing seasons and emphasize the connection between humans and the natural world. The Wheel of the Year is a concept commonly used to illustrate the cycle of Pagan holidays. It consists of eight key celebrations that mark the solstices, equinoxes, and the points in between. The two solstices, summer and winter, mark the longest and shortest days of the year respectively, while the two equinoxes, spring and autumn, mark the times when day and night are of equal length. Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, is one of the four fire festivals celebrated by Pagans.

PAGAN CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS

Christian Holidays are ancient Pagan feasts that were ushered in by the Roman Catholic Church during the rule of Emperor Constantine. Constantine was a Pagan follower of Mithra(s) who had what he thought was a "Christian experience" that led him to victory in battle. He wanted to unite his empire, both Christian and pagan together with a Universal (Catholic) religion. He achieved this by taking ancient Wisdom and spirituality from multiple civilizations and beliefs and then re-writing history and re-naming pagan feasts with Christian names. This began at the Council of Nicea in 325CE.

Pagans in Rome celebrated the evening of February 14th and February 15th as an idolatrous festival in honor of Lupercus "the hunter of wolves". It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a "Christian" custom. As far back as 496, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15th to St. Valentine's Day on February 14th. The original Saint Valentine was Nimrod, on this day in February, Semiramis, the mother of Tammuz, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original "mother and child."

Mother's Day and Father's Day:

Mother's Day dates back to ancient cultures in Greece and Rome. In both cultures, mother goddesses (Queen of Heaven). were worshipped during the springtime with religious festivals. The ancient Greeks paid tribute to the powerful goddess Rhea, the wife of Cronus, known as the Mother of the Gods (Queen of Heaven). Similarly, evidence of a three-day Roman festival in Mid-March called Hilaria, to honor the Roman goddess Magna Mater, or Great Mother, dates back to 250 BCE.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration of the "Mother Church" replaced the pagan tradition of honoring mythological goddesses. The fourth Sunday in Lent (Weeping for Tammuz), a 40-day fasting period before Easter, became known as Mothering Sunday. To show appreciation for their mothers, they often brought gifts or a "mothering cake" (Jeremiah 7:18) and over time, it began to coincide with the celebration of the Mother Church. Mother's Day always falls on the second Sun-day of May, and like so many other holidays rooted in pagan sun-worship including Father's Day which always falls on the third Sun-day of June, usually fall on the day named in honor of their most powerful god -- The Sun.

Easter or Ishtar, also known by her biblical name Semiramis and later called the "Queen of Heaven" was the widow of Nimrod and mother of Tammuz. Easter is the bare breasted pagan fertility goddess of the east. Legend has it that she came out of heaven in a giant egg, landing in the Euphrates river at sunrise on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox, busted out, and turned a bird into an egg laying rabbit.

To honor this event, Pagan sun-worshippers would go out early in the morning and face to the east to watch their Sun-God arise over the horizon before having a mass (sacrifice) in which the Priest of Easter would sacrifice human infants and take the eggs of Easter and die them in the blood of the sacrificed infants. The blood-red colored Easter eggs would later hatch on December 25th, the same day her son Tammuz the reincarnate sun-god would be born.

Easter (Ishtar) married her son Tammuz who was by legend the reincarnate Sun-God. Tammuz went pig hunting and was gored to death by a wild boar and that is why Pagans eat ham on Easter. Because Tammuz was killed when he was forty years old, Pagans fast one day for each of the years that he lived leading into Easter. This practice is known as Weeping for Tammuz by Pagans but called Lent by Catholics.

All Saints' Day was followed by All-Souls' Day, November 2, unless that was a Sunday then it was November 3, this was another Catholic adaptation of Pagan festivals for the dead. Prayers for the dead are an integral part of the traditional All Saint's Day services, which are scheduled in Catholic churches on November 1, and on the next Sunday. Halloween gets its name from the Catholic holiday, it is a Hallowed evening, because it precedes All Hallows' Day, thus: Hallow'en. Halloween is a Pagan holiday to honor the dead and evil spirits. Surprisingly, Christian scriptures warn not to take part in customs and traditions like this.

Pagans served their gods by honoring the evil spirits on Halloween. They did this by dressing up like evil spirits and giving offerings to the evil spirits. This is why candy is given out on Halloween, as offerings for the evil spirits. The phrase trick or treat was attributed to this practice because Pagans believed the evil spirits would do something bad (trick) to them if they did not leave an offering (treat) for them. Many times they would hang food on their front doors for the spirits of the dead.

The pagans in Rome celebrated their thanksgiving in early October. The holiday was dedicated to the goddess of the harvest, Ceres, and the holiday was called Cerelia. The Catholic church took over the Pagan holiday and it became well established in England, where some of the Pagan customs and rituals for this day were observed long after the Roman Empire was absorbed into the church system. In England the "Harvest Home" has been observed continuously for centuries.

Closer to here, among the Aztecs of Mexico, the harvest took on a grim aspect. Each year a young girl, a representation of Xilonen, The goddess of the new corn, was beheaded. The Pawnees also sacrificed a girl. In a more temperate mood, the Native Americans of the Southeast danced the "Green Corn Dance" and began the new year at harvest's end.

This is the reason that Native Americans were right at home with the Pilgrim Fathers on that day in 1621. Obviously, the idea for this "first Thanksgiving" in the New World was not a new idea. On the contrary Thanksgiving, in the guise of the Pagan harvest festivals, can be traced right back to ancient Babylon and the worship of Semiramis.

Christmas was celebrated by Pagans for thousands of years before the supposed literal historical Messiah/Christ was even supposed to have been born. It all started during the building of the tower of Babel. Nimrod supervised the operation and was called the Sun-God and worshipped as such. To end this worship, Nimrod's uncle Shem, supposedly Noah's eldest son, killed Nimrod and cut his body into small pieces then scattered his body parts across the land.

Ishtar or Easter, also known by her biblical name Semiramis was the widow of Nimrod. She was called the "Queen of Heaven" and claimed to have been impregnated by Nimrod through the rays of the Sun and later had a son by the name of Tammuz who had a miraculous birth on December 25th. Pagans believed that Nimrod was reincarnated as Tammuz and so Easter (Ishtar) married her son Tammuz. Pagans celebrated the birthday of the reincarnates Sun-God on December 25th. Christian scripture is very clear that Christians are not to celebrate this particular holiday . yet, well . you know.

"The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other deities, that they may provoke Me to anger." (HIM Jeremiah 7:18)

The passage above is obviously referring to making Christmas cookies and leaving those cookies and a glass of milk for Nimrod's widow Easter who was called the Queen of Heaven. The only difference is now those offerings are left for Santa (Satan) himself. Let's look at another interesting passage from Christian Scripture.

Thus says the Lord, "Do not learn the way of the gentiles, and do not be dismayed at the signs of the heaven; for the gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it not move. (HIM Jeremiah 10:2-4)

This passage is obviously referring to cutting down the "Christmas tree," putting it on some sort of tree stand, and decorating it. Once you learn why it had become customary to use an erect evergreen tree that has a pointed end decorate it with big red balls you will realize the extent of the sexual intentions in this holiday.

The erect tree symbolizes Nimrod's erect masculinity. The tree was evergreen because evergreen trees are full of life year round, like Nimrod's penis. The tree was pointed at the end just like Nimrod's pecker. The big red balls that dangle off the tree, well you get the picture. This holiday is perversion at its best. Remember also, that the steeple on Christian churches is representative of the masculine phallus and it's power. Remember, every Sun-God was born on December 25th. Amun-Ra, Horus, Mithra(s), Tammuz, and Zeus were all born on December 25th.

Sunday Church Worship:

Early believers kept Saturday as the Sabbath until March 7, 321 CE when Pope Constantine passed a law requiring believers to worship on Sun-day, the day the Pagan world worshipped the Sun-Gods. Hebrews still kept Saturday as their Sabbath. Another law was passed eleven years later and this law signed into decree by Pope Constantine forbade Christians to worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) and it became punishable by death by the Roman Catholic Church. Many believers were burned to death by the Catholic Church for keeping the original Sabbath.

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

Celebrate the Earth: A Year of Holidays in the Pagan Tradition

Celebrate the eight major pagan holidays, and honor the turning of the seasons and the heavens with which they coincide. Learn about the pagan origins of traditions like Christmas and Easter that were co-opted over by other major religions, and use spellcraft, herbcraft, magickal stones, recipes, crafts and games to infuse traditional spirit into your rites of the seasons. You can still celebrate nature and the earth's turning in the modern world, and find or create a community of others to do so with. From the Solstices to Beltane to Lammas, Laurie Cabot brings her distinctive blend of modern practicality and traditional wisdom.

by Laurie Cabot Author

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Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, is one of the four fire festivals celebrated by Pagans. It takes place on February 2nd and marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolc is associated with the arrival of spring and the increasing power of the sun.

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• Religion & Spirituality
• Witchy

It is a time for purification, renewal, and the awakening of the earth from its winter slumber. Beltane, celebrated on May 1st, marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is a joyous celebration of fertility, growth, and the abundance of nature. In many Pagan traditions, this holiday is associated with the Maypole, a decorated pole around which people dance, symbolizing the union between the earth and the heavens. Litha, also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, occurs around June 21st and marks the longest day of the year. It is a time when the sun is at its peak and life is abundant. Pagans celebrate Litha through bonfires, feasts, and rituals that honor the power of the sun and the bounty of nature. Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, is celebrated on August 1st. It marks the first harvest and the beginning of the harvest season. Lughnasadh is a time to give thanks for the abundance of the earth and to reflect on the sacrifices made to sustain life. Mabon, or the Autumn Equinox, takes place around September 21st and marks the second harvest and the arrival of autumn. Pagans use this holiday to honor the balance between light and dark, as well as to give thanks for the fruits of the earth. Samhain, celebrated on October 31st, is perhaps the most well-known Pagan holiday. It is commonly known as Halloween and marks the final harvest and the beginning of winter. Samhain is a time when the veil between the physical world and the spiritual realm is believed to be thin, allowing for communication with departed loved ones and honoring the cycle of life and death. Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, occurs around December 21st and marks the shortest day of the year. Pagans celebrate Yule through the lighting of candles, the decoration of evergreen trees, and rituals that honor the return of the sun and the triumph of light over darkness. These Pagan holidays are a way for practitioners to honor the cycles of nature, connect with the earth, and celebrate the sacredness of life. They provide an opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness of all beings and to express gratitude for the gifts of the natural world..

Reviews for "Connecting with the Divine: Meditations and Prayers for Pagan Holidays"

1. Jane - 2/5: I was really looking forward to reading "Pagan Holidays" as I have always been interested in pagan traditions. However, I was quite disappointed with this book. The author's writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult for me to follow along. Additionally, I found that the content was repetitive, with the same information being repeated over and over again. Overall, I felt that "Pagan Holidays" lacked depth and left me wanting more substance on the subject matter.

2. Mark - 1/5: As someone who is not well-versed in pagan traditions, I was hoping that "Pagan Holidays" would provide a clear and concise introduction to the topic. Unfortunately, this book failed to meet my expectations. It was filled with jargon and terminology that was not explained adequately, leaving me feeling confused and frustrated. Moreover, the author seemed to assume that the reader already had prior knowledge of pagan beliefs, which made it difficult for me to engage with the content. I would not recommend "Pagan Holidays" to anyone seeking an accessible and informative book on the subject.

3. Sarah - 2/5: I wanted to like "Pagan Holidays" as I am always interested in learning about different religious practices. However, I found this book to be shallow and lacking in substance. The author seemed to skim the surface of each holiday without really delving into the significance and meaning behind them. The chapters were also unevenly structured, with some holidays receiving more attention than others. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wanting a more comprehensive exploration of the pagan holiday traditions.

4. John - 1/5: "Pagan Holidays" was a complete disappointment for me. The writing style was dry and unengaging, making it a chore to read through. The information provided was basic and felt like a regurgitation of facts easily found on the internet. I was hoping for a more in-depth analysis of pagan holidays, but instead, I got a surface-level overview with no real depth. This book added no value to my understanding of pagan traditions and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful exploration of the subject.

The Artistic Expression of Pagan Holidays: Mandalas, Altars, and More