Pagan holidays are festive celebrations that are observed by individuals and communities who follow pagan or neopagan belief systems. These holidays, also known as Sabbats, are rooted in earth-centered spirituality and are often associated with the changing seasons and cycles of nature. Pagan holidays typically honor and connect to various deities, ancestors, and other spiritual forces. One of the most well-known pagan holidays is Samhain, celebrated on October 31st or November 1st. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Samhain is considered a time when the veil between the living and spirit worlds is thinnest, making it an opportune moment to honor and communicate with ancestors and other spirits.
Christian holidays or pagan holidays?
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” ~2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Let’ s start this off by taking a good, hard look at how and why paganism slowly but surely crept its way into Christianity. The how can be explained by the why . The why was to appease the heathen pagan beliefs to get them to join the church of Rome. Do we know if we are celebrating Christian holidays or pagan holidays ? Are we really worshiping the Christian God of the Bible or the heathen idols?
It seems most of our Christian holidays are actually pagan festival days, or at least they started out that way. Across the years they have slowly morphed into a merging of both cultures, Halloween being at the very top of the list. It’s more than a coincidence that God repeatedly warns us about this ongoing problem of trying to blend pagan customs together with Christian beliefs. Even if we’re participating just to join in and have fun, the root of these holidays are pure evil, and therefore should be avoided by those professing to be followers of Christ . . . plain and simple!
“Abstain from every form of evil.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:22
Christianity’s spread through what is now Europe was slow and complicated. Few people were eager to give up their pagan way of life in order to become Christians. Instead, the church of Rome blended its message together with existing local pagan traditions and beliefs, customs and rituals. This is simply a fact right out of history. Nearly all modern-day Christian holidays are a combining of early Roman Christian holy days and Pagan festival days.
The Pagan part of each holiday originated with a different ancient heathen god or goddess festival. The Christian part of these combined holidays was derived from the historic events of the day. The early church of Rome, led by the Emperor, Constantine, was totally willing to do whatever it took to get people to join the church.
The birth of Easter was the blending of the resurrection of Jesus along with pagan worship of the ancient Babylonian Ishtar goddess. Ishtar was the goddess of fertility and sex who married Tammuz the god of fertility in Greek mythology. By combining Christian theology together with Greek mythology the church of Rome was able to appease both Christians and Pagans. The Christians by adding a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, and the pagans by adding their fertility goddess into the mix, and even giving the holiday a version of her name Ishtar/Eastre, pronounced Easter.
Samhain is considered a time when the veil between the living and spirit worlds is thinnest, making it an opportune moment to honor and communicate with ancestors and other spirits. Yule, observed around the winter solstice, is another significant pagan holiday. It symbolizes the rebirth of the sun and the eventual return of light and warmth.
Isn’t Easter about the risen Savior—or is Easter pagan?
So many people believe that Easter was created as a holiday to celebrate our risen Savior? But the simple fact of the matter is it was yet another attempt by Pagan Rome to satisfy their Pagan membership?
The Pagan goddess Ishtar was the goddess of fertility. Ishtar, also known as Ostre, or Eastre—which is where the word for the female hormone estrogen comes from. She was the “sex goddess” of all sex goddesses! That is why the Easter or “Eastra” symbols are eggs and bunnies! The rabbit is the most prolific animal known to man, hence the saying “they breed like rabbits!”
This Pagan holiday was merged right into Christianity, combining the rebirthing of pagan gods and the renewing of the earth in the springtime together with the resurrection of Jesus. What a horrible way to treat the most important event in the history of mankind, to combine it together with such a disgusting event as fertility symbols and sex rituals. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened, and all in an effort to entice pagans to become Christians.
Easter is a pagan festival
The Easter bunny and Easter eggs are archaic pagan symbols of extreme fertility and prolific reproduction. Sorry to say it but this is what’s at the very core of these seemingly harmless traditions. These things are not Christian but rather the trappings of heathen idol worship, and are to be avoided according to the word of God. They are certainly not something we should be teaching our children to enjoy.
“Thus says the Lord: Do not learn the way of the heathen …” ~ ~ Jeremiah 10:2
God tells us in no uncertain terms that we are not to learn the ways of the heathen , or even speak the names of these gentile gods. The customs of these people are in vain because they are foolish — they are worthless wooden idols. He goes on to say that all the gods that these people worship are man-made, and they will all perish along with the heathens.
I, much like most of you, celebrated Easter every year and really enjoyed it. I had two small children that loved dying Easter eggs, along with hunting for the big Easter basket full of candy that the Easter Bunny hid for them. I get the attachment to all of this fun for the kids, as well as the handing down of these traditions from generation to generation. Nevertheless, whether I enjoyed it or not, if God says don’t do it, I'm not doing it anymore.
These fun customs are such a great case in point as to the cleverness of the enemy. How he can literally candy-coat just about anything to make it appealing to us. Lord help us to turn from our carnal ways and look to you for everything. Give us the desire to follow your word and only your word.
Yule celebrations often involve lighting candles or bonfires and exchanging gifts. It is a time to gather with loved ones and express gratitude for the blessings in life. Imbolc, celebrated in early February, marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It represents the awakening of the earth and the anticipation of spring. Imbolc rituals often focus on purification and healing, as well as honoring Brigid, the goddess of hearth and home. Beltane, observed on May 1st, heralds the arrival of summer and the peak of fertility in nature. It is a time of joyous celebration, marked by bonfires, dancing, and feasting. Beltane rituals often honor the union of the god and goddess, symbolizing the creative power of life. Litha, also known as Midsummer or the summer solstice, is celebrated around June 21st. It is a time to honor the fullness of the sun's power and the abundance of nature. Litha celebrations may involve bonfires, outdoor rituals, and the gathering of herbs for magical use. Lughnasadh, observed on August 1st, marks the first harvest and the importance of agriculture. It is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the earth and to honor the god Lugh, associated with craftsmanship and skills. Lughnasadh festivals often include fairs, games, and communal feasts. Mabon, celebrated on the autumnal equinox, is a pagan holiday that honors the balance between light and dark as the days begin to shorten. It is a time to express gratitude for the fruits of the harvest and to prepare for the coming winter. Mabon rituals may include feasting, wine-making, and sharing abundance with others. Overall, pagan holidays serve as opportunities for pagans to connect with the natural world, celebrate the cycles of life, and honor the divine in all forms. These celebrations often involve rituals, feasting, music, dance, and other forms of communal and individual expression. Through these holidays, pagans seek to deepen their spiritual connections, cultivate gratitude, and live in harmony with nature..
Reviews for "The Cultural Significance of Pagan Holidays"
1. Jennifer - 1/5 stars - This book was a complete disappointment. I was expecting a thorough exploration and explanation of pagan holidays, but instead, I found it to be superficial and lacking in substance. The author barely scratched the surface in defining these holidays and failed to provide any in-depth analysis. The book read more like a list of facts rather than an engaging study. I was left wanting more and ultimately felt like my time was wasted reading it.
2. Robert - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for this book and was intrigued by the subject matter, but it fell short of my expectations. While the author did provide definitions of various pagan holidays, I found the information to be too basic and lacking any depth. Additionally, the writing style was dry and unengaging, making it difficult to stay interested. Overall, I was disappointed by the lack of substance and would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thorough exploration of pagan holidays.
3. Lily - 2/5 stars - As someone interested in learning more about pagan holidays, I found this book to be a letdown. The definitions provided were not comprehensive enough, leaving me with more questions than answers. The author did not delve into the historical or cultural significance of these holidays, which was a missed opportunity. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and uninspiring. Overall, this book left me feeling unsatisfied and wishing for a more in-depth exploration of pagan holidays.