Christianity, one of the world's major religions, is believed by some to have associations with pagan rituals. The origins of Christianity can be traced back to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who was born and raised in a Jewish family. However, as the religion spread and adapted to different cultures, some argue that it incorporated elements of the pagan practices and traditions it encountered. One of the main arguments supporting the association between Christianity and pagan rituals is the timing of Christmas. Christmas, celebrated on December 25th, is widely accepted as the day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, it is believed by many historians and theologians that the date for Christmas was intentionally chosen to coincide with pagan winter solstice celebrations, such as the Roman festival of Saturnalia.

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In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.

My 13 All-Time Favorite Witch Cartoons

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Warning: Contains material some readers may find offensive.

This year's Golden Broomstick Awards for all-time best Witch Cartoons go to the following:

Image: Couple in car in front of take-out restaurant. Building is decorated with gingerbread men, candy canes, etc. Sign: “Candy Cottage Fast Food.”
Caption: That's odd: there's a place to drive in, but no where to drive out.

Image: Woman in supermarket with infant in cart seat and toddler by the hand, addressed by a classic steeple-hat witch.
Caption: Which aisle did you get those in?

Image: Two hunters in forest clearing strewn with bones. Around them, a circle of goofy-looking little birds in hooded robes.
Caption: Much to their horror, Reuben and Zeke realized that they had stumbled onto a coven of quail.

First frame: Rainbow with pot of gold. Witch looks on longingly.
Second frame: Witch runs towards pot.
Third frame: Witch dumps out gold.
Fourth frame: Rainbow with pile of gold lying on ground. Witch happily stirring new cauldron.

Image: Two old crones in black pass playground; kids on merry-go-round.
Caption: Look, Griselda, a rotisserie!

Image: Two old men, one bearded, one with goatee, playing cards. Old man with goatee: “I’ll see your six and raise you three.”
Caption: Gerald Gardner and Gershom Sholem play Persecution Poker.

Image: Bumpersticker: Lesbian Witches are Deosil Dykes.

Image: Witch burning at stake, ringed by circle of people holding hands and singing.
Caption: Someone's burning, Lord, kumbaya.

Image: Close-up of grocery store shelf.
On boxes: Hamburger Helper. Tofu Helper. Unbaptized Baby Helper.

Image: Close-up of Brassiere Rack in department store.
Sign under standard two-cup bras:
Bras for Cowans.
Sign under three-, four-, and five-cup bras.
Bras for Witches.

Image: Two classic black-hats, the elder berating the younger.
Caption: Hazel, if you can't say something nasty, then don't say anything at all.

Image: Schoolroom with standing kids, hands on hearts.
Caption: And to the republic where witches dance.

Image: Classic black hat coven, holding hands, praying.
Caption: Our father, who wert in heaven.

With honorable mention for “Best Heathen Cartoon of the Year”:

Image: Bumpersticker: Snorri Said It. I Believe It. That Settles It.

Paganism in the Disney Vaults

Cartoons have always held a special place in my heart. My first memories of television revolve around Space Ghost cartoons, and as I’ve grown older cartoons have served as a way to periodically re-connect with my childhood. For decades cartoons were marginalized as “children’s entertainment” with critics and adult audiences ignoring the creativity, artistic genius, and ingenuity that went into making them. Today’s cartoons are no longer “just for kids” and neither were the ones from 85 years ago, though most people didn’t quite realize it yet.

I think most of us today are aware of just how much pagan has popped up in Disney films over the years. We’ve seen pagan deities and cultures in Disney films such as Hercules and The Black Cauldron*, and though dragons, evil queens, brave knights, and pumpkin coaches may not be ours they certainly feel like it. I’m not sure just how much ancient pagan lies in a lot of our fairy tales (and the Disney ones have certainly been sanitized), but they do nicely fit into a magical worldview.

Fantasia is generally thought of as the most pagan of all the Disney films, and there’s certainly a case to be made there. From Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse to Bald Mountain to Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony there’s a lot of magical stuff to enjoy. And yes they don’t get Bacchus as right as I’d like, and Zeus is a bit of a hothead, but it’s still a lot of fun. However if you are looking for some real Pagan cartoons it’s Disney’s older stuff that really stands out.

Growing up near Nashville Tennessee I heard lots of ridiculous accusations about people in the media. One I remember quite distinctly claimed that Walt Disney was a Pagan. Now that’s most certainly not the case, but some of his early shorts come pretty close to fitting the bill. The best of the lot are all Silly Symphonies, which are generally light on plot, but heavy on gags and music. Disney produced seventy-five Silly Symphonies over the course of ten years (1929-1939), many of them imaginative takes on nature, mythology, fairy tales, and holiday lore.

My favorite of the Silly Symphonies is Playful Pan (1930), and while the animation is a bit crude, it perfectly captures Pan as he came to be known in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. I think we are a bit more aware today of how our gods were perceived in ancient times, and the Pan depicted above is certainly not the one I’ve come to know over the years, but it certainly captures a side of him. This is Pan as the Lord of Nature, in love with the natural world and putting out forest fires.

Despite my bias towards Pan, I’ll freely admit that the best of the Silly Symphonies is probably not Playful Pan. That honor goes to Goddess of Spring a retelling of the Persephone/Hades story from Greek Mythology. It has some issues, Hades is depicted as Satan for instance, but it’s also amazingly beautiful. Disney’s Persephone comes straight out out of a Alphonse Mucha painting and was the company’s first attempt at realistically depicting the human body.

Unlike Playful Pan not everything is sunshine and roses in Goddess of Spring (1934). Hades abducts his bride and takes her forcibly to the underworld, plunging Persephone into depression and the world into eternal winter. Though Hades is not quite likable in the cartoon, he’s not all bad. He does seem to at least really love Persephone in his own misguided way (which is keeping with the myth).

If you like your cartoons full of violence and animated mermaid breasts you’ll love 1932’s King Neptune. Looking more like Santa Claus than Poseidon, Neptune is the kind of cartoon that could have only been made in the 1930’s. Was that an attempted rape? Is there blood on that knife? Yikes! I think the moral of the story is that deities like Neptune do have power, and if you are going to mess with their worshippers there’s going to be retribution. (I’m not sure the animators really felt that way, but why not?)

1935’s The Golden Touch was Disney’s rather bland take on the tale of King Midas, mentioned here just because I feel like I should be thorough. Instead of taking place in Ancient Greece the animators chose a more medieval setting. It sort of works, but Midas’s incessant pleading for a hamburger makes it feel more like a Popeye cartoon than a Disney classic. It was also the last of the Symphonies with a mythological focus.

Just in time for Halloween in 1929 was Skeleton Dance, the first of Disney’s Silly Symphonies and perhaps the most recognizable. The art from this particular short has appeared in a number of other places, perhaps because there’s nothing quite like it. Everything about Skeleton Dance is rather crude but there’s a fluidness to the skeletons that I have trouble looking away from. It’s not Pagan, but in many ways it might have been the first real cartoon nightmare before Christmas.

Disney also did an entire turn of the Wheel through Silly Symphony shorts, though they vary in quality. The first was Springtime (1929) which was followed quickly by Summer and Autumn in early 1930. Summer is nearly a carbon copy of Springtime and doesn’t really capture the season as much as I might like. Autumn captures the barren and beautiful landscapes of late November marvelously, complete with birds flying South and animals preparing to hibernate. Near the end of Autumn there are blowing leaves giving way to blowing snow and perfectly capturing the change of season so many of us experience this time of year. The less written about Winter (which was released over a year later than Springtime) the better. It’s a disappointment after the whimsy of the first three shorts.

There are a few other Silly Symphonies worth taking a look at. Flowers and Trees from 1932 was Disney’s first Technicolor cartoon and it’s amazing just how much better it looks than Playful Pan produced just a few years before. I’ve always liked the myth of the eternal and magical countryside, and I think Disney captured it nicely in Flowers and Trees. In a similar vein is 1933’s Birds in Spring, perfect Ostara or Beltane viewing depending on where you live.

Silly Symphonies ceased production in 1939 as the studio began to focus on features (not to mention World War II looming in the background). And while Disney would make more animated shorts after the war, they never did so with as much frequency. Today hand drawn animating seems to be a dying commercial enterprise, but I’ll always cherish it. Here’s to playful Pan and Persephone, immortalized in movie houses and now on Youtube.

*But could they have gotten The Black Cauldron any more wrong? Why all of Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles aren’t a giant box-office thing is beyond me. In an age of too many remakes and reboots, it’s time for a live action reboot.

The Search for Pagan Friendly Kids’ Media

Three years ago, when I became a father, I was confronted with a dilemma every single parent faces: how should I raise that kid? Children, after all, don’t come with instruction manuals and, being a single child from a single parent household, I did never quite manage to understand how a “normal” family is supposed to work.

One key issue me and my wife wrestled with early on was the question of media. What should we show our kid, and how could we make sure to pass on a good set of values and ideas into that little head of hers? Thankfully, my wife and I agree on most things, including spiritual matters. Still, for the longest time we were not quite sure about how much to “push” our beliefs unto our child. Shouldn’t every kid get the chance to decide for his or herself what to believe in? Isn’t it somewhat abusive to force a child to comply to a set of values and morals that they do not fully understand?

At the end of the day, we both agreed that it was important for us to introduce our child to our practices and values. After all, if we did not raise our child, who would? Still, there are many ways to present one’s spiritual and religious ideas to a little kid and some are arguably less forceful than others.

When raising a child with Paganism, though, things can be a little complicated. There are not quite the same amount of resources, educative or otherwise, that larger religious groupings out there can enjoy. Discounting intermittent festivals and other communal events, each and every family unit is pretty much left to their own devices when it comes to transmitting the faith. As a result, there likely exist countless practices, strategies, and opinions on the subject, and the present piece will not dare detailing these here.

Instead, I wish to focus on one easy and obvious way to introduce small children to the world of the Old Religion: kids’ entertainment and media. Paganism, after all, has historically influenced virtually all aspects of arts, ideas, literature, and aesthetics and continue to do so today. It is therefore not too hard to find examples of kids’ media that, if not straight-up Pagan, could still be used to familiarize a child to this universe.

The following list is based on my own experience with my two-and-a-half-year-old child, so the items presented will of course be those best suited for younger kids. The criteria for what constitutes a Pagan or Pagan-friendly media item are arguably up to debate but I thought that the following ones would be relatively non-controversial:

• The story includes/presents characters taken from the mythology and folklore of Pagan or Polytheist cultures. Those do not need to be completely faithful to the original sources, or even the modern understanding of those figures but they should play a significant role in the narrative.
• The story showcases magic or ritual in a positive, neutral, or nuanced manner. The trope of the evil witch is therefore not okay, but a tale where both the protagonists and their adversaries use magic is fine. Stories that paint magic as a disruptive and dangerous force could potentially be fine, but probably would be best suited older audiences.
• The story does not include significant figures, locales, or plot devices characterized by their link to a monotheist religion. A church in a background picture is fine, as are casual depictions of priests, nuns, and the like, but any story that revolves around or uncritically present religions that have historically hostile to Witchcraft and Pagan worship will not cut it.

Finally, it also matters that the media in question is actually good. What is good is of course a matter of personal opinion, but one should always keep in mind to nurture the future generations with media and art that come first and foremost from a place of love and passion. Keep in mind also to check that whatever you plan on showing your kids does not contain shocking or violent imagery, they will have plenty of time to deal with things like that in their teens anyways.

Now with all that, I will present you 10 pieces of children media and entertainment that, not only I believe make excellent entryways in the world of Paganism, but have also hugely entertained and enchanted my own daughter.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff – written by Nat Lambert and illustrated by Christina Forshay

Also known as bukkene/bockarna Bruse, this beloved ages-old story of the three goats who have to confront a scary bridge-dwelling troll in order to (literally) access greener pastures is as popular in Scandinavia as it is in North America. My daughter’s kindergarten even sing song and organizes small plays retelling the story, to the amazement of the small ones! This book was selected because, besides the beautiful, colorful illustrations, introducing your children to folkloric creatures such as trolls will familiarize them with a folklore that is very much Pagan at its core.

Good Night Fairies – written by Kathleen Hague and illustrated by Michael Hague

Let’s face it, every kid likes fairies. What is not to like about those beautiful ethereal dwellers of the skies? In this whimsical and poetic good-night book, your children will be served absolutely breathtaking, intricate art-nouveau inspired illustrations depicting a little folk that cares for nothing more than bringing joy to kids and the natural world alike. This book was selected primarily because it showcases a hopeful, positive, and truly magical worldview that is bound to mystify any curious child.

The Earth is Good – written by Michael DeMunn and illustrated by Jim McMullan

This adorable book might be more pantheist than Pagan, it nevertheless makes for a beautiful, and easy read for or to a little kid. In it, you will follow a little boy running around wide open spaces, and read how everything in the natural world is just… good. This books was selected because of this simple, yet meaningful message which is guaranteed to seep deep into the mind of your toddlers in no time.

Ulddageađgi (Huldresteinen) – written and illustrated by Sámmul Iŋggá Heidi (Heidi Persen)

This small peculiar book comes with text in two languages: Norwegian and Northern Sámi, one of the languages of Norway’s northern indigenous people. It is a retelling of an old folk story about a bewitched stone inhabited by a beautiful yet ominous supernatural woman, a hulder. While this book is not available in English, Google Translate (or any basic Norwegian dictionary) can easily make this story accessible to anyone. This book has been selected because it tells an intriguing story stepped in indigenous folklore and culture that deserves better recognition.

The Vikings are Coming – written and illustrated by Mauri Kunnas – colors by Tarka Kunnas

Coming from Finland’s most popular children author, this book introduces the Viking Age to kids in a cutesy, PG, and yet faithful manner. In this book, you will find short, funny, and gorgeously illustrated stories set in the Viking Age alongside thematic sections such as, sailing, daily life, and, of course, the Norse Gods. My daughter not only loved the many adorable characters like the Viking-cat or the pig-berserk, but also very quickly learned the names and attributes of Gods such as Odin, Thor, Frey, and Frigg. This book was selected, among many other things, for that reason.

Delightful Moomin Family – directed by Masayuki Kojima

Based on the works of the legendary Swedish-speaking author Tove Jansson, this anime, which originally aired in the early nineties is widely considered a cult classic among those who (like me) were lucky enough to watch it growing up. The series follows the peaceful, if not altogether tranquil lives of a family of cute, hippo-like trolls who go on adventures in a beautiful, Nordic-inspired world. This anime was elected because it is filled to the brim with fascinating wizards, ghosts, witches on the top of being one of the most comfy animated series ever made.

The Halloween Tree – directed by Mario Piluso – written by Ray Bradbury

Let’s face it: most Witches and Pagans love Halloween, but Halloween is not always either PG, or actually Pagan-y. This animated movie from the 90s, based on the eponymous 1972 book re-centers the mythos of Halloween on Samhain and other similar festivities and rituals. Featuring narration by the author, as well as voice acting from none other than Leonard Nimroy, this movie is authentic Americana-Halloween that manages to educate just as much as it charms.

Bamse and the Witch’s Daughter – directed by Christian Ryltenius

While relatively unknown outside of Scandinavia, Bamse is a true star up here in the North. Half Mickey Mouse and half Asterix, Bamse is the world’s strongest -and nicest- bear and has been a fixture of popular kids media since the sixties. While the story’s core identity is grounded in humanist and liberal values, magical and folkloric elements do show up time to time, like in this 2016 feature where the protagonists are a family of witches struggling to find their place in Bamse’s world. This nicely-animated feature is guaranteed to teach a thing or two about not only Witchcraft, but kindness too.

My Neighbor Totoro – directed by Hayao Miyazaki

One of the most beloved Studio Ghibli animated movies, My Neighbor Totoro mixes magical realism with a deep sense of reverence for nature and childhood alike. Moving to the woods in the middle of nowhere, two young sisters soon encounter a flurry of friendly (and soft) supernatural creatures who will help them with the issues they face in their daily lives. If other Ghibli movies might surpass Totoro in terms of artfulness, nothing will enchant the life of a kid like watching Totoro, or “bus-cat film” as my daughter calls it.

Coco – directed by Lee Unkrich

This CGI-animated movie based on the folklore of the Mexican Day of the Dead follows the story of a music-loving young boy growing up in a family that does not tolerate this art form at all, and who must step in the realm of the departed to find both himself, and relatives of his. While this pitch might not sound anything too over the top, this ridiculously colorful movie actually centers on the importance of making offerings to one’s ancestors and working with them for the benefit of both the living and the dead. I could not imagine a more Pagan narrative if I could, especially not for a Disney-Pixar production.

I hope that this short list – presented in no particular order – has proved both useful and entertaining, and that it might inspire young and expecting parents to think about what kind of media, art, and entertainment they might want to provide to their spawns. I also hope that it will generate further conversation on this topic and maybe motivate other Pagan parents to make similar lists. Finally, if this piece proves popular, I cannot rule out making another one in a few years time, when my child is not a toddler anymore and will have access to even more complex, refined, and influential art and media. Gods know how many more books and movies I have ready for her when that time comes!

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About Lyonel Perabo

Lyonel Perabo is a scholar of Old Norse Religion, who holds an M.A. from the University of Iceland and focuses his research on Medieval Norse-Icelandic literature, Nordic travelogues, and the local history of northern Fenno-Scandinavia, where he currently resides. When not engaged in academic ventures, Lyonel works within tourism, advertising, translation, and berry-selling.

However, it is believed by many historians and theologians that the date for Christmas was intentionally chosen to coincide with pagan winter solstice celebrations, such as the Roman festival of Saturnalia. In order to ease the conversion of pagans to Christianity, the early Church is believed to have adopted certain elements of these pre-existing celebrations. Furthermore, the incorporation of pagan symbols and rituals into Christian practices is also seen in the case of Easter.

The timing of Easter is determined by the lunar calendar and is associated with the Jewish festival of Passover. However, the name "Easter" itself is believed to have derived from the pagan springtime fertility goddess Eostre. Additionally, the tradition of egg decorating and the use of rabbits as symbols of fertility during Easter may also have pagan origins. While these connections between Christianity and pagan rituals exist, it is important to note that they are not universally accepted or agreed upon. Many Christians and scholars argue that the adoption of certain pagan elements was a strategic move by the early Church to make the new religion more relatable and accessible to converts. Others believe that any similarities between Christianity and pagan rituals are purely coincidental or the result of cultural diffusion. In conclusion, there are arguments and evidence supporting the association between Christianity and pagan rituals. The timing of Christmas and the origins of Easter have been linked to pagan practices, suggesting some level of influence. However, it is essential to recognize that these connections are complex and debated among theologians and historians. Ultimately, the interpretation and understanding of these associations vary among individuals, making the topic of Christianity's relation to paganism a matter of personal belief and interpretation..

Reviews for "The Evolution of Worship: How Pagan Rituals Transformed Christian Practices"

1. Michelle - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with this book. I was expecting a detailed analysis of the historical and cultural influences on Christianity, but instead, I felt like the author was pushing their own agenda. The arguments presented were weak and lacked evidence, and it seemed like the author was cherry-picking certain pagan rituals to fit their narrative. Overall, I found the book to be biased and unconvincing.

2. John - 1/5 - "Is Christianity associated with pagan rituals" was a complete waste of my time. The author's arguments were not well-supported, and their writing style was difficult to follow. It was as if they were trying to convince the reader without providing any concrete evidence. I expected a more thorough exploration of the topic, but instead, I was left feeling frustrated and underwhelmed.

3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "Is Christianity associated with pagan rituals" to be disappointing. While the concept sounded intriguing, the execution fell short. The author seemed to overlook important historical facts and cherry-picked examples to support their claim. It would have been better if they had approached the subject with more objectivity and provided a more balanced analysis. Overall, I felt let down by this book and would not recommend it.

4. Mark - 1/5 - This book failed to provide a convincing argument for the association between Christianity and pagan rituals. The author's claims were often general and lacked depth. I expected a more rigorous examination of this topic, but instead, I was left with more questions than answers. I would not recommend "Is Christianity associated with pagan rituals" to anyone looking for a well-researched and thought-provoking analysis.

Challenging Beliefs: Examining the Impact of Paganism on Christian Theology