Pagan Christmas songs are a unique and interesting aspect of the holiday season. While Christmas is primarily associated with Christianity, there are songs that have pagan origins or pagan elements within their lyrics or melodies. These songs often have roots in ancient traditions and folklore that predate the Christian celebration of Christmas. One well-known example of a pagan Christmas song is "The Holly and the Ivy." This song dates back to at least the 18th century and incorporates pagan symbolism found in the holly and ivy plants. These plants were traditionally associated with the winter solstice celebration in pagan cultures, representing fertility and rebirth.
As it is currently described, H. conica is found on the ground under hardwood and conifer trees in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. You can find the Witch’s Hat across North America fruiting from early summer through fall, or fall through winter in warmer climates like California. There are usually a few to many of these mushrooms scattered around a small area, so if you see one make sure to look around for more! 1,3
I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest.
These plants were traditionally associated with the winter solstice celebration in pagan cultures, representing fertility and rebirth. Another pagan Christmas song is "Deck the Halls." While it is now a popular festive tune, the song originated from a Welsh New Year's Eve tradition known as "Nos Galan.
Witch hat mushroon
In keeping with a Halloween theme, this month's fungus is the witch's hat mushroom, Hygrocybe conica, also known as Hygrophorus conicus (more on the taxonomy later). With its orange color and witch hat shape, this mushroom is a natural for Halloween. This fungus is common this time of year in coniferous and mixed conifer/hardwood woods-- we took this picture of mushrooms collected by Bernadette O'Reilly in a mixed pine and scrub red oak forest a couple weeks ago. At least here in the midwestern USA, the further north you go, the more likely you are to find Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus specimens. Hygrocybe and Hygrophorus species are reportedly mycorrhizal with both hardwoods and conifers, although I've yet to see definitive proof. They certainly are difficult to culture, indicating that there's something (essential nutrients?) missing in "normal" media.
You may have learned this species as Hygrophorus conicus, but for many year there Hygrocybe has been segregated from Hygrophorus. I did not believe in this separation until I traveled to the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado in 1997 and saw the wide variety of Hygrophorus species out there-- none looking anything like the brightly colored species we have in the midwest. In the field the distinctions between the genera are pretty clear, with a few exceptions. A third genus Camarophyllus, is also segregated out by some. These genera are placed in the family Hygrophoraceae because of their waxy gills and mycorrhizal habit. My students often have trouble with "waxy." I tell them to think of waxy here as the consistency of soft candle wax, not of hardened cold candles.
These genera, once all placed in the genus Hygrophorus, are now separated from one another on the basis of microscopic characters, primarily the arrangement of the hyphae in the gill trama. The gill trama is the flesh of the gills, underneath the outside layer of basidia and basidiospores. To determine the arrangement of the trama, you should look to see how the hyphae grew out from the center of the mushroom toward the outside. In Hygrocybe the gill trama hyphae are parallel to subparallel. In Hygrophorus the trama is divergent. The arrangement of the trama is considered by most agaricologists to be a very important character at the generic level. In the picture to the left, you can see the parallel trama of Hygrocybe conica and the divergent trama of Hygrophorus russula. The origin of each gill section is to the right, and the end of the gill of each section is to the left. The basidia are borne on the outside of the gills, showing up as a dark, dense area in these sections.
However, lumper that I am, I did not believe the distinction was valid until I went to a foray in 1997 in the mountains of New Mexico and saw many species of Hygrophorus there (we don't have very many of these species in our area). Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe are quite different in stature and overall appearance. Hygrocybe species tend to be more brightly colored and much smaller, although there are some bright white Hygrocybe species bigger than any Hygrophorus I've ever seen. Hygrophorus species tend to have more muted colors and are much larger. If you are a "lumper," you might still consider that all these species belong in a single genus, Hygrophorus. Bill Cibula (now retired from NASA) worked on the carotenoid pigments in these genera many years ago, although little of it is yet published. Someone also needs to work on the DNA of these organisms. Taxonomy is often a matter of opinion anyway.
There are many other species of Hygrocybe , ranging in color from red to yellow to orange to white. To the left is Hygrocybe psittacina, the parrot mushroom, so named because of the green color fading out to yellow as it ages. There are many other species of Hygrocybe that may litter the ground, especially in conifer areas.
Below is Hygrophorus russula, our most common Hygrophorus in the midwestern USA. The epithet names comes from the superficial similarity of its fruiting bodies to those of Russula. Note the more muted coloration compared to the Hygrocybe specimens. You probably can't tell from this picture, but these specimens are ten times larger than any of the Hygrocybe species pictured on this page. However, there certainly are a wide variety of colors and sizes represented in each of the genera. Be on the lookout for them in your area.
I hope you enjoyed learning something about Hygrocybe conica. And I hope you have a Happy Halloween. Maybe you should incorporate a mushroom into your Halloween costume? I'd love to see a picture if you do. I'll even include it online if you give me permission to do so.
- Tremella mesenterica, witch's butter.
- Claviceps purpurea, cause of the plant disease ergot and likely factor in the Salem Witch Trials
- Omphalotus olearius, the Jack-O-Lantern Mushroom.
A spore print is the pattern produced when a mushroom is allowed to drop its spores onto a surface. Spore prints are taken to assess the color of a mushroom’s spores.
" This tradition involved singing and dancing and was not specifically associated with Christmas. The lyrics of "Deck the Halls" were later adapted to fit the Christmas season. Additionally, the song "The wassail song" has pagan roots. Wassail, meaning "be in good health," was an ancient tradition of caroling and drinking to bless the apple orchards and ensure a good harvest. The song's lyrics reflect this tradition and invoke blessings upon the apple trees, making it a pagan-inspired Christmas song. Pagan Christmas songs serve as a reminder of the rich cultural history and diversity surrounding the holiday season. They add an interesting layer to the traditional Christmas repertoire and give us a glimpse into the ancient traditions and beliefs that have influenced modern celebrations. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, many people continue to enjoy these pagan-inspired songs as part of their holiday festivities..
Reviews for "Exploring the Influence of Paganism on Christmas Music"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with this album of pagan Christmas songs. As much as I appreciate diversity and different cultural traditions, I just couldn't get on board with these songs. They lacked the warmth and nostalgia that I look for in Christmas music. The pagan themes felt out of place during a holiday that is traditionally associated with Christian beliefs. Overall, it just didn't resonate with me and I won't be adding this album to my Christmas playlist.
2. Mark - 1 star: This album of pagan Christmas songs is a complete miss for me. I was expecting something unique and refreshing, but instead, I found the songs to be dull and uninspiring. It felt like the artist was trying too hard to be different, and it just didn't work. The music lacked the joyful and uplifting spirit that I associate with Christmas. I understand the intention behind the album, but it failed to capture the essence of the holiday for me.
3. Emily - 2 stars: I appreciate the effort to explore pagan traditions through Christmas songs, but unfortunately, this album fell short for me. The music felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive theme. The songs didn't flow well together, and it was hard to find a connection between them. While I understand the desire to celebrate diversity, I couldn't shake the feeling that these songs didn't belong in the context of Christmas. Overall, it was an interesting concept, but the execution left much to be desired.
4. Michael - 3 stars: I admire the boldness of the artists in creating a collection of pagan Christmas songs, but personally, it didn't resonate with me. The pagan themes felt out of place and somewhat forced in the context of Christmas. While the music itself was well-produced and the vocals were decent, the overall experience didn't leave a lasting impression. I appreciate the effort to provide an alternative perspective on the holiday, but I think this album will have a niche audience rather than wide appeal.