Thanksgiving is often celebrated as a secular holiday in the United States, but some individuals argue that its origins can be traced back to pagan customs and traditions. These individuals point to various practices and beliefs associated with ancient harvest festivals as evidence of these pagan influences. One of the main arguments is that Thanksgiving shares similarities with the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. Saturnalia was a week-long celebration held in December to honor the god Saturn and mark the winter solstice. During this festival, people engaged in feasting, gift-giving, and revelry. Similarly, Thanksgiving is a time when families come together to share a meal and express gratitude.
You'll also find tips and tricks for working with full moon energy for love, money, healing, and even hexes and curses. So whether you're a novice witch looking to take your first steps into magical practice or an experienced practitioner looking to deepen your understanding of this vital component of witchcraft, Full Moon Witchcraft has everything you need!
Whether you re new to witchcraft or an experienced practitioner looking to expand your knowledge, this guide has everything you need to embark on your magical journey with confidence. Indulge in the enchanting power of the full moon with The Magic of Full Moon Tea Recipes And Rituals - the ultimate guide to brewing delicious and spiritually nourishing herbal teas.
Similarly, Thanksgiving is a time when families come together to share a meal and express gratitude. Another point of contention is the association between Thanksgiving and the ancient harvest festival traditions of the European pagans. These festivals were celebrated to give thanks for a successful harvest and to honor various agricultural deities.
Is Thanksgiving Pagan?
There are many controversies surrounding the American holiday of Thanksgiving. From its racist and genocidal past, some find it hard to celebrate this holiday.
Thanksgiving is also controversial for some Christians because of its possible ties to certain pagan holidays. But do the similarities between two holidays make Thanksgiving pagan? Or do the similarities simply have to do with a common theme that is important to all humans?
Let’s consider Harvest Home or Harvest Church. This was, by many accounts, the true ancestor of the modern American Thanksgiving. This holiday was usually held around the time of the Autumnal equinox, when people would decorate the church with fruit and vegetables they had grown that year.
After the festival, those fruits and vegetables were donated to the poor. This was seen as a time to provide for the less fortunate, like widows, orphans, those who were stuck in their homes, and ministers.
More obviously pagan is the holiday of Mabon. While this holiday is traditionally observed in September, it has similar themes of self sacrifice and giving thanks for a good harvest.
The myth of the American First Thanksgiving, when boiled down to its essence, holds these exact same themes: The sacrifice coming from the Native Americans, the giving of thanks by the Puritans.
Some Christians believe that the similarities between Mabon, Harvest Home, and Thanksgiving mean that Thanksgiving must then be a pagan holiday. But there are many similarities present between all holidays. I can’t think of a single holiday that is unique to one culture and not present in any other. Can you?
There are other harvest festivals in other cultures. The idea of a holiday to give thanks for our blessings is an ancient one, and a universal one. Other harvest festivals include:
Many of the customs observed during these festivals, such as decorating homes with fall produce and participating in communal feasts, are also practiced during Thanksgiving. Critics argue that the incorporation of these pagan elements into Thanksgiving is evidence of its pagan origins. They claim that the Christian narrative of Thanksgiving being rooted in the Pilgrims' gratitude towards God for their survival after their arrival in America is a later addition intended to Christianize the holiday. However, it is important to note that the connection between Thanksgiving and paganism is a matter of interpretation rather than historical consensus. While some argue for the incorporation of pagan elements, others highlight the role of Christianity in shaping the holiday. The Pilgrims, who were devout Christians, viewed their survival and the bountiful harvest as signs of divine providence, giving thanks to God for their blessings. Ultimately, whether or not Thanksgiving is a pagan holiday depends on one's perspective and interpretation of historical evidence. While there are similarities between Thanksgiving and certain pagan customs, the Christian narrative of gratitude towards God remains a significant aspect of the holiday for many people..
Reviews for "Unmasking the pagan influences on Thanksgiving celebrations"
1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with "Why is Thanksgiving a Pagan Holiday". First of all, the author's argumentation was weak and poorly supported. The book lacked substantial evidence to back up the claim that Thanksgiving has pagan origins. Additionally, the writing style was confusing and difficult to follow. It seemed as if the author jumped from one topic to another without any clear structure. Overall, I found this book to be unconvincing and I cannot recommend it to others.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Why is Thanksgiving a Pagan Holiday", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The book started out promising, exploring the history of Thanksgiving, but then quickly devolved into baseless claims and conspiracy theories. The author failed to provide credible sources or scholarly research to support their arguments. Moreover, the writing was riddled with grammatical errors and typos, making it difficult to take the book seriously. I was disappointed by the lack of depth and coherence in this supposed expose, and I would not suggest wasting time reading it.
3. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
"Whu is Thanksgiving a Pagan Holiday" was a complete letdown. The book lacked factual accuracy and relied heavily on personal opinions and conjecture. The author's tone was condescending and dismissive towards opposing viewpoints, which made it hard to engage with the material. There was also a noticeable lack of rigour in the research, with the author cherry-picking information to fit their predetermined narrative. I expected a more balanced and well-reasoned argument, but instead, I was presented with a biased and poorly executed book. Save yourself the trouble and look elsewhere for a thorough analysis of Thanksgiving's history.