Pagan winter holiday traditions have been practiced for thousands of years and continue to be observed by many individuals and groups today. These traditions date back to ancient civilizations and were often centered around the winter solstice, which marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. One of the most well-known pagan winter holiday traditions is the celebration of Yule. Yule is derived from the Norse word jól, and it commemorates the rebirth of the sun and the return of light after the darkest time of the year. Many pagan traditions incorporate bonfires and the lighting of a Yule log to symbolize the warmth and light that will come with the return of the sun. This celebration often includes feasting, gift exchange, and gathering with loved ones.
Academics at Cranfield University and colleagues from the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom’s International Section recently delivered a defence and security leadership course for island nations in the south Pacific Ocean which involved coordination across six different time zones.
CZ Nový simulátor z prostředí Hvězdných válek nabídne kromě 50 misí, skvělého grafického enginu a síťové hry i možnost prolétnout se lodí Millenium Falcon. The three Island nations are on different time zones and with the Defence Attachés from Australia and New Zealand also participating as sponsors along with the delivery team in the UK the course involved working across six time zones between 10 and 13 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
This celebration often includes feasting, gift exchange, and gathering with loved ones. In addition to Yule, the ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia during the winter solstice. Saturnalia was a time of indulgence and merry-making, with celebrations lasting for several days.
Demos
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus Publisher: Oddworld/GT EN: Damn, this is really something. Huge demo of new Abe adventure. The character is still funny and the voices sounds like from real idiot. There are new ideas, moves and new locations to explore. Don't forget to chant. RO: La naiba, asta este ceva. Unn demo imens al noilor aventuri ale lui Abe. Personajul este în continuare haios şi vocile sună ca la un adevărat idiot. Sunt idei noi, mişcări şi locaţii noi de explorat. Nu uitaţi să cântaţi. CZ: Líbil se vám úchvatný Abe's Oddysee? Nám moc. V pokračování se sice opět ocitnete v kůži malého Abeho, ale díky již hotovému enginu se autoři mohli soustředit hlavně na hratelnost a nové nápady, takže se opět nebudete ani trošku nudit. Screenshot: /LEVEL/ABES | Launch Date: 1098 /Abe's Exoddus/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 60 MB HDD Carmageddon 2 Publisher: SCI EN: Mad Max is back. Dozens of innocent people, dogs and other victims to kill. RO: Mad Max s-a întors. Duzine de oameni inocenţi, câini şi alte victime, sunt gata de a fi călcate… CZ: Šílený Max je zpátky a pod koly jeho auta se ocitají houfy nebohých chodců, psů atd., nic pro slabší žaludky. Screenshot: /LEVEL/CARM2 | Launch Date: 1198 /Carmageddon 2/BLOOD.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 60 MB HDD Delta Force Publisher: Novalogic EN: New SpecOps or Rainbow Six clone. A special commando is about to attack drug cartel basement. Detail looking Voxel Space 3 engine, but still no 3D card support. RO: O clonă a New Spec Ops sau Rainbow Six . Un comando special este gata de a ataca baza unui cartel de droguri. Detaliile arată ca într-un engine Voxel Space 3, dar nu este necesară o placă 3D. CZ: Po SpecOps a Rainbow Six tu máme další hru, ve které ovládáte příslušníky speciálních jednotek utočících na základnu drogového kartelu, vytvořenou v graficky velice detailním enginu Voxel Space 3. Bohužel ale stále bez podpory 3D karet. Screenshot: /LEVEL/DELTA | Launch Date: 1198 /Delta Force/SETUP.EXE | Win95, P166 MMX, 32 MB RAM, 30 MB HDD Dethkarz Publisher: Melbourne EN: Very fast and good looking action racing game from KKND makers. RO: Un joc de curse foarte rapid şi care arată bine de la cei care au făcut KKND. CZ: Rychlá auta z budoucnosti aneb další skvěle vypadající akční závody, tentokráte od tvůrců KKND. Screenshot: /LEVEL/DKARZ | Launch Date: 1198 /Dethkarz/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 50 MB HDD, 3D karta Enemy Infestation Publisher: Clockworks EN: New X-COM shaped real-time strategy, where colonists a extraterrestrial fights against each other. RO: O strategie real-time de forma X-COM, unde coloniştii sunnt nişte extratereştrii care se luptă unii contra altora. CZ: Graficky velice povedená real-time strategie podobná X-COMu, ve které proti sobě bojují kolonisté a mimozemští vetřelci. Screenshot: /LEVEL/EI | Launch Date: 1198 /Enemy Infestation/EIDEMO.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 70 MB HDD F16 Multirole Fighter Publisher: Novalogic EN: Another excellent Novalogic simulator features F-16. RO: Un alt simulator de avion F-16 de la Novalogic. CZ: Další simulátor od Novalogicu, pro tentokrát zasednete do kokpitu ef šestnáctky. Screenshot: /LEVEL/F16 | Launch Date: 1098 /F16/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 40 MB HDD Get Medieval Publisher: Monolith/Microids EN: Pretty fast action fantasy game supports co-operative mode up to four human players. RO: Un joc de acţiune rapidă fantazistă care suportă un mod co-operativ de până la patru jucători umani. CZ: Velice rychlá akční fantasy hra, kterou můžete hrát i ve více lidech. Screenshot: /LEVEL/GM | Launch Date: 1098 /Get Medieval/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 30 MB HDD Live Wire Publisher: SCI EN: Kind of action logic game which is very easy to play. RO: Un fel de joc de acţiune logică care este foarte uşor de jucat. CZ: Pokud si chcete zahrát skvěle vypadající akčně-logickou hru, podívejte se na Live Wire! Screenshot: /LEVEL/LIVEW | Launch Date: 1198 /Livewire | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM Magic & Mayhem Publisher: Virgin EN: An interesting fantasy RPG strategy mix like Diablo or Hexplore. Just use your spells to kill everything what's moving. The demo contains two levels. RO: O interesată strategie RPG fantastică, un mix de genul Diablo sau Hexplore. Doar foloseştete de magii pentru a distruge tot ce mişcă. Demo-ul conţine două nivele. CZ: Strategické fantasy RPG, podobné Diablu či Hexploru, ve kterém jde ale jen o jedno - pomocí svých kouzel a služebníků vypudit všechny protivníky. Demo obsahuje dvě úrovně. Screenshot: /LEVEL/M&M | Launch Date: 1098 /Magic & Mayhem/SETUP.EXE | Win9M5, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 70 MB HDD monaco grandprix racing 2 Publisher: UBI Soft EN: Take classic F1 Racing latest GrandPrix Legends, mix it together and you've got Monaco GP Racing 2. New racing game form UBI Soft for ultimate racing in nowadays and history. RO: Luaţi un F1 Racing clasic şi ultimul GrandPrix Legends, amestecaţile şi veţi obţine Monaco GR Racing 2. Noul joc de curse de la UBI Soft pentru cea mai tare cursă de maşini din zilele noastre şi din toată istoria. CZ: Chcete realistické formule? Prožít kariéru stájového jezdce? Retro mód 50tých let? V pokračování úspěšných F1 Racing Simulation toho naleznete mnohem víc. Screenshot: /LEVEL/MONACO | Launch Date: 1098 /Monaco GP Racing 2/MONACO.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 30 MB HDD Need for Speed 3 Publisher: EA EN: That's the last and definitely final version of NFS 3. Just taste the reel feel of speed. RO: Aceasta este ultima şi sigur versiunea finală a NFS 3. Gustaţi adevărata senzaţie a vitezei. CZ: Betaverzi dema NFS3 jsme vám, díky ohromné vstřícnosti firmy EA, mohli jako jedni z mála na světě přinést už před několika měsíci. Nyní pro vás ale máme, také jako první v naší republice, FINÁLNÍ verzi. Užijte si ji. Screenshot: /LEVEL/NFS3 | Launch Date: 1098 /Need for Speed 3/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 40 MB HDD Populous: The Beginning Publisher: Bullfrog/EA EN: Finally one of the most awaiting demo of this year is here. Populous 3 with detail tutorial, three missions and one multiplayer level. Astonishing and most promising game for the end of 98. RO: În sfârşit unul dintre cele mai aşteptate demo-uri ale acestui an este aici. Populous 3 cu un tutorial detailat, trei misiuni şi un nivel multiplayer. Cel mai uluitor şi promiţător joc de la sfârşitul anului 98. CZ: Konečně demoverze velice očekávaných Populous 3! Obsahuje celé tři mise i s detailním tutoriálem plus jednu síťovou úroveň. Tak už hrajte, Populous 3 vypadají na jednu z nejlepších her tohoto roku. Screenshot: /LEVEL/POP3 | Launch Date: 1198 /Populous 3/POPULOUSDEMO.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 80 MB HDD Powerslide Publisher: Ratbag/GT EN: There is only one real entertainment left after holocaust in 2020 - off road racing Powerslide. RO: Este doar o singură adevărată distracţie rămasă în urma holocaustului din anul 2020 - curse de maşini offroad Powerslide. CZ: Po holocaustu v roce 2020 zbyla lidem už jen jediná zábava - off-road závody Powerslide. Screenshot: /LEVEL/POWER | Launch Date: 1198 /Powerslide/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 40 MB HDD Rage of Mages Publisher: Monolith/Microids EN: An entertaining middle age RPG with familiar engine feel like Warcraft 2. RO: Un antrenant RPG pentru vârsta mijlocie cu un engine familiar, asemănător cu Warcraft 2. CZ: Zábavné středověké RPG vypadající jak v enginu real-time strategie, tedy podobně jako třeba Warcraft 2. Screenshot: /LEVEL/ROM | Launch Date: 1098 /Rage of Mages/ROMDEMO.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 60 MB HDD SHOGO: Mad Publisher: Monolith/Microids EN: Long awaiting 3D action shooting with interesting story. Half on your own, half in huge mech. RO: Mult aşteptatul joc de tras 3D cu o poveste interesantă. Jumătate om, jumătate robot. CZ: Velice očekávaná 3D akce, ve které bojujete střídavě po svých nebo v kokpitu gigantického mecha. Nejde ale jen o efektně vypadající střílení - zaujme vás i chytlavý příběh. Screenshot: /LEVEL/SHOGO | Launch Date: 1098 /SHOGO/ShogDins.exe | Win95, Pentium, 32 MB RAM, 150 MB HDD Speed Busters Publisher: Ubi Soft EN: Drivers for new amazing racing game wanted. You do not need a licence because we don't suppose you gonna need it. RO: Se caută şoferi pentru noul joc de curse extraordinar. Nu ai nevoie de permis de conducere pentru că nu credem că vei avea nevoie de el. CZ: Hledáme řidiče pro novou totálně vypadající závodní hru. Řidičák v ní nepotřebujete, stejně byste o něj rychle přišli. Nám stačí jen abyste se rádi bavili. Screenshot: /LEVEL/SPEEDB | Launch Date: 1098 /Speed Busters/spbdemo.exe | Win95, Pentium, 24 MB RAM, 60 MB HDD, 3D karta Superbike Championship Publisher: Milestone/EA EN: Truly fantastic looking demo of motorbike racing with one disappointing mistake - a short time limit so you won't finish even one round. RO: Un fantastic demo de curse de motociclete cu un singur neajuns - o limită de timp aşa că nu veţi termina nici măcar o singură cursă. CZ: Opravdu naprosto skvěle vypadající demo závodů motorek mající kromě virtuálního pohledu jedinou chybu - krátký časový limit, během kterého nestihnete ani dokončit první kolo. Screenshot: /LEVEL/BIKES | Launch Date: 1098 /Superbike/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 24 MB RAM, 60 MB HDD WW2 Fighters Publisher: Jane's/EA EN: Six minutes in the heat of Battle of Ardennes. Another simulator from the second world war. RO: Şase minute în căldura din Battle of Ardennes. Un alt simulator din al doilea război mondial. CZ: Zalétejte si v bitvě o Ardenny v dalším simulátoru z dob 2. světové války! Jeho demoverze obsahuje dvě, náhodně střídané, mise, které se ale po šesti minutách ukončí. Screenshot: /LEVEL/WW2 | Launch Date: 1198 /WW2 Fighters/SETUP.EXE | Win95, Pentium, 32 MB RAM, 80 MB HDD
It involved feasting, gift-giving, and the temporary suspension of social norms. This tradition influenced later winter holiday celebrations, including Christmas. Another pagan tradition that has survived to this day is the use of evergreen decorations. Ancient cultures believed that evergreen plants were special because they remained green and vibrant during the winter months when other plants died. This symbolism of life and survival led to the use of evergreen wreaths, garlands, and trees as holiday decorations in many pagan traditions, as well as in later Christian celebrations. Some modern pagan traditions also incorporate the celebration of the winter solstice as a time of reflection and introspection. This may include meditation, ritual, and setting intentions for the coming year. Many individuals also engage in acts of kindness and charity during this time, as a way of spreading light and goodwill. Overall, pagan winter holiday traditions have deep historical roots and have evolved over time. They celebrate the cycles of nature, the return of light, and the joy of coming together with loved ones. These traditions continue to be passed down and practiced by many individuals and groups, as a way of connecting to their heritage and finding meaning and joy during the winter season..
Reviews for "Pagan Winter Symbols and Their Meanings"
1. John - 1 star - The Pagan winter holiday traditions event was a complete disappointment. From the moment I arrived, I was surrounded by strange rituals and practices that made no sense to me. The organizers did a poor job of explaining the significance behind the traditions, and it felt like they were just going through the motions. The whole event lacked any sense of joy or holiday spirit, and I left feeling confused and frustrated.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Pagan winter holiday traditions event, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The activities were poorly organized, and it was difficult to understand what was going on. The event also lacked variety, with the same rituals and performances being repeated over and over again. I was hoping to learn more about Pagan traditions, but instead, I left feeling bored and uneducated.
3. Mark - 1 star - The Pagan winter holiday traditions event was a complete waste of time. The whole thing felt like a marketing ploy to attract tourists rather than a genuine celebration of ancient customs. The organizers seemed more interested in selling merchandise than in educating attendees about Pagan traditions. I would not recommend this event to anyone looking for an authentic cultural experience.