Pagan Christmas Tree Ornaments: A Celebration of Ancient Traditions Christmas is a time of year that is celebrated by millions of people all over the world. It is a time for family, joy, and giving. One of the most iconic symbols of Christmas is the Christmas tree, with its sparkling lights and vibrant ornaments. While many people see the Christmas tree as a strictly Christian tradition, the use of pagan Christmas tree ornaments has a rich history that predates Christianity. Paganism, a term used to describe a variety of pre-Christian religious practices, has a strong connection to nature and the changing of the seasons. One of the ways that pagans celebrated the winter solstice was by decorating evergreen trees, which symbolized life and fertility during the cold, dark days of winter.

Jade Scarab Island Guide

A curse has befallen those looking for the Jade Scarab, can you get to the bottom of it?

Video Playthrough

For a written walkthrough with pictures, scroll down.

Written Walkthrough

Walkthrough by Slanted Fish
Special thanks to LJ & Linksgames28

Welcome to Jade Scarab Island! Head right and you’ll soon meet the frazzled museum curator, who’ll tell you to catch up inside the museum. This finicky new friend has no time to waste!

Inside the museum, the curator will ask (nay, demand) you to find out what happened to the archaeologist who was meant to bring in the Jade Scarab for the big exhibit. Browse around the museum, and you’ll find all sorts of visitors, including one camel fanatic spitting dubious facts.

Back outside, the curator’s brother Bes will be ready for you with his ride. Hop in, and drive your way through the desert and right to the next scene.

You’ll arrive at the village. Ask around and you’ll hear rumors of a curse, activated by the excavation of the tomb containing the Jade Scarab. As for the camel owner, he’s just hoping someone will spend big bucks for a camel tour so he can feed them. We know just the guy! Take Bes’ car back to the museum and dazzle the camel fan with the opportunity of a lifetime. He’ll be running before you know it.

Drive back to the village and you’ll find him waiting by the camels. Talk to the owner, who’ll release the camels. Off they go! Watch in awe as the camels guzzle up the lake water, drying up the mud and allowing the digsite’s stuck truck to move again. Sadly for them, the machinery breaks down — leaving the tomb entrance now open for you.

Enter the tomb, walk right, and pick up the Hawk Blinder on the ground. It’s about to come in handy! You can’t go further into the tomb because of the rocks in the way, so make your exit.

Back outside, go left and you’ll find a big bird pecking away at some locusts. Use your newfound hawk blinder on the bird, and it’ll fly up and over to its owner. As thanks for bringing his falcon back, the owner will let you use his flying friend, Horus, to help you locate the missing digsite equipment in the desert!

Now playing as Horus the falcon, you can fly around the desert to explore what’s out there. However, what you’re really looking for is just southeast of the village. At this middle-of-nowhere location, you’ll find a Stack of Receipts inside the truck. Once you’ve got it, you’ll head back.

Returning to the village, this time you’ve brought back a working excavator machine, which means the rocks in the tomb can now be cleared. As the foreman chips away at the pile, you can jump into the next part of the tomb and pick up the Charcoal on the ground.

Now use the charcoal with the receipts, and you’ll have to rub the charcoal across all the paper to create a Charcoal Rubbing. If you look closely, you’ll find that the hieroglyphics on the paper matches the art you’re looking at in the tomb! But what does it all mean? The elderly lady in the village will explain: it’s an old story about the Jade Scarab.

Knowing the story, you’ll be able to figure out the order in which to press the pictorial panels. With panel labeling starting from the left, the order is: 1) third panel (famine, pharaoh); 2) fourth panel (gods, scarab); 3) first panel (overnight, life); and 4) second panel (crops, fish).

This will unlock a new area within the tomb, one involving the night sky. However, a piece is missing. Head back outside to the elderly lady, and she’ll tell you her grandson has run off with the object you need to try to catch a cat. Find the kid (and kitty) among the upper market stalls, and once you catch him, he’ll give you the Merkhet (no cat this time, though).

To get past this merkhet puzzle, rotate the sky so the blue star rests at the half-edge of the horizontal line (—), moving the closest merkhet string to touch the blue star. Move the other merkhet string to the other end of the sky. Then rotate the sky so the star travels from one end to the other. Or watch the video above to see how it’s done. Once you’ve got it, the walls will open.

Enter the newly opened area and you’ll find—the Jade Scarab?! Just as you stumble upon it, though, who should appear but the digsite foreman—and it’s not good news. He’ll snatch the scarab, intending to sell it for his personal gain, and lock you inside.

While you’re still reeling from shock, the cat from earlier shows up for a second, disappearing into the sarcophagus in front of you. Stand on either side of the sarcophagus and push it, revealing a hole into which you can make your escape.

You’ll find yourself in a dark maze lined with hieroglyphs, but you’re not alone. The cat will appear again briefly, guiding the way forward. Follow her steps and keep going until you reach an altar filled with cat idols and… another Jade Scarab! Pick it up and you’ll see that it’s The Genuine Article. Then, head right and hop up the rocks until you find the way out.

A cutscene will play, with the foreman gruffly asking Howard Diggory to pay up for the stolen Jade Scarab. Suddenly, your character will emerge from the ground. But before you can say anything, another shock arrives. The cat, who was there the whole time, suddenly transforms into her true form: the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet!

She zaps the two corrupt diggers into beetles, saying that the Scarab must be protected. Bastet will commend you for not being as greedy as the other guys, then turn back into a cat, and be lured away by the merchant’s grandson. You’ll skip ahead to the grand opening of the museum’s big exhibit—now with the true Jade Scarab and Bastet’s blessing.

Thanks to you, the museum can now open its display for the genuine Jade Scarab. The curator will award you with your Jade Scarab Medallion. Congrats, you’ve completed Jade Scarab Island!

Looking for more walkthroughs? Check out our Island Help Guides! 🏝

Trivia

• Jade Scarab Island was designed by Girl Power. It was announced as a winner of Poptropica’s Design Your Dream Island Contest on February 19, 2021. Its original name pre-release was “Secret of the Jade Scarab Island.”
• The island was released on April 26, 2022 for all players.
• You can read more about the behind-the-scenes of this island in this exclusive PHB interview with the island’s designer.
• The plaque for the Jade Scarab in the museum names “Professor L. Girlpower” as the discoverer of the tomb, honoring the island designer, Girl Power, whose real name is Lyndsey.
• The Museum of Really Old Things is modeled after the the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, Egypt, complete with the Egyptian flag on top.
• The stone panel art of the eye and pyramid on the museum’s exterior bears some resemblance to the Eye of Providence symbol, but in Poptropica’s version, the eye is above and outside of the pyramid.
• Your character offers a pun at the sarcophagus display in the museum: “Wonder if he knows a good Cairo-practor?” — a play on Cairo, Egypt’s capital, and chiropractor, a spinal healthcare professional.
• Your character’s reaction to the camel owner’s charge — “Over 9000? That’s crazy!” — may be a reference to the “over 9000” meme from 2006.
• The “Falafel International” shop opening soon on Main Street is a branch of the falafel shop on Virus Hunter Island.
• Howard Diggory is named after Howard Carter, who discovered King Tut’s tomb, and Diggory because he’s an archeologist and spends a lot of time digging, according to Girl Power.
• Horus the falcon shares a name with the falcon-headed Egyptian god.
• While flying with Horus the falcon, you can see the Pyramid of Khafre, the nearby Queens’ Pyramids, 24 Carrot’s Rabbot crashed and mostly buried, and a mirage of Fairytale Island’s Rumpelstiltskin on a ring float in a pond.
• You can flirt with the busy businessman on Main Street. He won’t be impressed, though.
• The kitty resembles Bastet, Egyptian cat goddess, whose icons are seen in the elderly lady’s market stall.
• There is no common room and Quippy store on this island.

Museum

These are the displays from the Museum of Really Old Things. Click to enlarge.

PHB Review: Jade Scarab Island 🪲

You you you! Yes you, adventurer! Have you played Jade Scarab Island yet? The PHB team has had some time to dig in and digest, and now we’re here to share our thoughts with you about this final Dream Island, which released in late April. Beware: spoilers lie ahead!

Storyline & Characters

Soon after Jade Scarab Island was announced as a winner of the Dream Island contest last year, the PHB shared an inside look from Girl Power, the Poptropican who designed the island. Looking back at her original ideas, it’s interesting to compare them to the real thing.

Girl Power’s submission contains extra details not found in the game, particularly in regard to names. This includes: Claira the curator, King Khnurn’s tomb (“reborn sun” in Egyptian), and the village of Iteru (“river” in Egyptian) — in Poptropica, they were all nameless.

However, the game is faithful to some of her other ideas, like the merchant and Howard Diggory. Other ideas are modified — instead of errands of fishing and translating, we’re boosting a camel business and locating a missing excavator. We’re not opposed to the Pop Creators taking creative liberties, but for an island that felt a bit short in playtime, it could have benefitted from more fleshing out of details.

The Ancient Antiquities Museum in Cairo became the Museum of Really Old Things on Pop, but still with the Egyptian flag on top.

Still, there were lots of fun characters and dialogue. We especially loved the player’s self-aware blimp remark, the busy businessman who rejects your flirting, and of course, the adorable little cat (although that goddess transformation came out of nowhere and left too soon!). 🐱

The reveal and defeat of the villain, the digsite foreman, felt abrupt and anticlimactic. He’s surly throughout the island, so it’s not much of a surprise when he swoops in to attack. However, his identity (though not expression) was part of Girl Power’s plan — she had named the foreman Awantagi (“deceitful person” in Egyptian). We don’t get much time to face him, either: a quick cutscene and it’s all over. Overall, the story is intriguing, but we just wish we could engage with it longer.

Gameplay

At times, the game can run rather slowly, and some players have reported getting locked in scenes. Hopefully the Creators can iron out these glitches soon, but in the meantime if you find yourself stuck somehow, you can restart the island from the map.

When things work, though, exploring Jade Scarab does feel like a classic OG island, with less hand-holding than most of the other new islands. Scanning the desert by flying with the falcon definitely gave us nostalgic vibes for similar mechanics on old islands like Wild West and Cryptids! 🦅

Perhaps the most challenging part of Jade Scarab is the merkhet puzzle. Even with the instructions and animated demonstration, players have been confused about the task at hand. (Our guide can help!) Its uniqueness makes this part interesting, but it also leaves us without much frame of reference for what we’re supposed to do.

Still, other parts struck a decent balance between fun and frustrating. Whether we were making charcoal rubbings or chasing a cat, it was exciting to make discoveries, and rewarding to figure things out.

Audio & Visuals

We love the looks and listens for Jade Scarab, but at the same time, they don’t feel new. Many of the soundtracks are from Arabian Nights Island, including this “Genie Dance” tune. (Hear more on our Pop Music page!)

The desert marketplace and tomb setting feels similar to Arabian Nights, while the ancient Egyptian aesthetics were also a feature of Nabooti Island. Technically, Jade Scarab is a new story with new art, but it doesn’t really break barriers in the Poptropica canon. 🚜

That being said, there are still many cool details to enjoy, like the mix of ancient and modern culture (including traffic honks!), hijab-wearing bystanders, and even Rumpelstiltskin on a ring float.

Verdict

With its fun but short storyline, classic island vibes, and neat but derivative stylings, Jade Scarab Island feels like a good-but-not-great addition to the map. Out of five we’d give this Egyptian expedition…

3.5 out of 5 Bastet idols. Though this excavation vacation comes with its share of enjoyable discoveries, it ultimately comes up short in its potential to dig deeper. Let’s hope Poptropica breaks that curse soon!

There’s so much more to unpack — head over to the trivia section of our Jade Scarab Island Guide to see what other details you may have missed!

With that, all three Dream Islands from the 2020 contest are done and dusted! Which one was your fave: Fairytale, Goofball, or Jade Scarab? 🏝 Next up, we’re looking forward to the return of some old islands to Steam—and maybe bigger adventures on Poptropica, too? 👉👈

Thanks for reading our review of Jade Scarab Island! Do you agree with our verdict? Share your opinions in the comments below!

— 🚜 the Poptropica Help Bloggers 🪲 —

Poptropica curse of the scarab

In this adventure, you must stop a deadly supervolcano that threatens Poptropica! Dive deep into the earth and explore areas (and maybe even civilizations) that have yet to be discovered. What challenges will you face?

One of the ways that pagans celebrated the winter solstice was by decorating evergreen trees, which symbolized life and fertility during the cold, dark days of winter. These decorated trees served as a reminder that life would return in the spring, and were seen as a way to invoke the blessings of the gods. Today, many people incorporate pagan Christmas tree ornaments into their holiday decorations as a way to honor the ancient traditions of their ancestors.

Monkey Wrench [EASY]

The Flying Ace Race is underway! But one evil pilot is about to throw a monkey wrench into your plans. To beat the Red Baroness and win the race, you'll need to build the fastest yellow blimp in Poptropica! Get ready to take flight in a compact adventure made especially for first-time players!

These ornaments often include symbols such as suns, moons, and stars, which represent the cycles of the seasons and the celestial bodies that guide them. Other popular pagan ornaments include animals such as deer and birds, which represent the link between the natural world and the divine. In addition to their symbolic meanings, pagan Christmas tree ornaments also add a unique and beautiful touch to holiday decorations. With their earthy colors and intricate designs, these ornaments can help create a sense of warmth and coziness in any home. They can also serve as a conversation starter, allowing people to learn more about the rich history and traditions behind them. While some may view the use of pagan Christmas tree ornaments as conflicting with Christian beliefs, the reality is that many holiday traditions have evolved over time and incorporated elements from different cultures and religions. The Christmas tree itself is a perfect example of this, with its origins rooted in pagan practices but now embraced by Christians and non-Christians alike. In conclusion, pagan Christmas tree ornaments are a celebration of ancient traditions that have been passed down through generations. By incorporating these ornaments into our holiday decorations, we can not only honor the customs of our ancestors but also add a touch of beauty and meaning to our celebrations. Whether for religious or purely aesthetic reasons, the use of pagan Christmas tree ornaments is a reminder that the holiday season is a time to come together and celebrate the rich tapestry of human history and culture..

Reviews for "folk magic tattoo"

folk magic tattoo