In the 1980s, the concept of a "Teen Witch" gained popularity in popular culture, particularly through movies and television shows. This trend was heavily influenced by the success of the film "Teen Witch", released in 1989. The movie tells the story of a young girl named Louise, who discovers that she is descended from a long line of witches on her 16th birthday. With the help of her newfound powers, Louise transforms from an outcast in high school to the most popular girl. The "Teen Witch" trend was marked by its portrayal of young witches as relatable and likable characters. These characters often navigated the challenges of teenage life while also dealing with their magical abilities.
[15] Tamara Prosic, Development and Symbolism of Passover (London; New York: T&T Clark, 2004), 84.
But on the specific question of the dating of Christ s birth pagan traditions cannot be definitively demonstrated to have had any bearing; rather it was Jewish custom that more plausibly determined the date. Internet fact checker Snopes agrees; Christmas was invented to provide an alternative to the celebrations of Mithraism, a rival pagan religion which threatened Christianity.
These characters often navigated the challenges of teenage life while also dealing with their magical abilities. They faced typical adolescent struggles such as fitting in, finding love, and asserting independence, but with the added dimension of their supernatural talents. The popularity of "Teen Witch" in the 1980s reflected a growing interest in fantasy and magic among young audiences.
Why December 25?
It's very tough for us North Americans to imagine Mary and Joseph trudging to Bethlehem in anything but, as Christina Rosetti memorably described it, "the bleak mid-winter," surrounded by "snow on snow on snow." To us, Christmas and December are inseparable. But for the first three centuries of Christianity, Christmas wasn't in December—or on the calendar anywhere.
If observed at all, the celebration of Christ's birth was usually lumped in with Epiphany (January 6), one of the church's earliest established feasts. Some church leaders even opposed the idea of a birth celebration. Origen (c.185-c.254) preached that it would be wrong to honor Christ in the same way Pharaoh and Herod were honored. Birthdays were for pagan gods.
Not all of Origen's contemporaries agreed that Christ's birthday shouldn't be celebrated, and some began to speculate on the date (actual records were apparently long lost). Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215) favored May 20 but noted that others had argued for April 18, April 19, and May 28. Hippolytus (c.170-c.236) championed January 2. November 17, November 20, and March 25 all had backers as well. A Latin treatise written around 243 pegged March 21, because that was believed to be the date on which God created the sun. Polycarp (c.69-c.155) had followed the same line of reasoning to conclude that Christ's birth and baptism most likely occurred on Wednesday, because the sun was created on the fourth day.
The eventual choice of December 25, made perhaps as early as 273, reflects a convergence of Origen's concern about pagan gods and the church's identification of God's son with the celestial sun. December 25 already hosted two other related festivals: natalis solis invicti (the Roman "birth of the unconquered sun"), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian "Sun of Righteousness" whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers. The winter solstice, another celebration of the sun, fell just a few days earlier. Seeing that pagans were already exalting deities with some parallels to the true deity, church leaders decided to commandeer the date and introduce a new festival.
Western Christians first celebrated Christmas on December 25 in 336, after Emperor Constantine had declared Christianity the empire's favored religion. Eastern churches, however, held on to January 6 as the date for Christ's birth and his baptism. Most easterners eventually adopted December 25, celebrating Christ's birth on the earlier date and his baptism on the latter, but the Armenian church celebrates his birth on January 6. Incidentally, the Western church does celebrate Epiphany on January 6, but as the arrival date of the Magi rather than as the date of Christ's baptism.
Another wrinkle was added in the 16th century when Pope Gregory devised a new calendar, which was unevenly adopted. The Eastern Orthodox and some Protestants retained the Julian calendar, which meant they celebrated Christmas 13 days later than their Gregorian counterparts. Most—but not all—of the Christian world now agrees on the Gregorian calendar and the December 25 date.
The pagan origins of the Christmas date, as well as pagan origins for many Christmas customs (gift-giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year; Yule logs and various foods from Teutonic feasts), have always fueled arguments against the holiday. "It's just paganism wrapped with a Christian bow," naysayers argue. But while kowtowing to worldliness must always be a concern for Christians, the church has generally viewed efforts to reshape culture—including holidays—positively. As a theologian asserted in 320, "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it."
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This is supported even by more scholarly online sources such as The Conversation, "an independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community".
It tapped into the desire for escapism and offered a fantastical world where teenagers had the power to control their own destinies. This trend also showcased the appeal of strong, independent female characters who embraced their unique abilities and challenged traditional gender roles. Following the success of "Teen Witch", numerous other movies and television shows were produced with similar themes. Some notable examples include "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" (1996-2003), which became a popular TV series, as well as "The Worst Witch" (1986) and its subsequent TV adaptation. Overall, the "Teen Witch" trend of the 1980s showcased the allure and empowerment of magic for a teenage audience. It provided a unique perspective on the challenges of growing up while incorporating elements of fantasy and adventure. This trend continues to resonate with audiences today, as young people continue to be drawn to stories that combine the relatability of teenage life with the excitement of supernatural powers..
Reviews for "The Coming-of-Age Journey of Teen Witch: Analyzing the Heroine's Arc"
1. Mark - 1/5 stars
"Teen Witch 1980 was a huge letdown for me. I had high hopes for a nostalgic feel and a compelling storyline, but it fell short on both accounts. The acting was abysmal, with stiff performances and lackluster delivery of lines. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth, making the whole film feel like a cheap knockoff of other supernatural teen movies. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend wasting your time on this one."
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars
While I appreciate the effort that went into creating the world of Teen Witch 1980, the execution fell short for me. The pacing was extremely slow, and the characters lacked any real development or likability. The script felt disjointed and the dialogue was often cringe-worthy. The special effects were laughable and took away from any potential excitement or suspense. Unfortunately, this movie did not cast its spell on me and I would not watch it again.
3. Chris - 1.5/5 stars
Teen Witch 1980 was a complete disaster. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, with many plot holes and unresolved subplots. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in the characters. Additionally, the cheap production values were obvious throughout, from the low-quality set designs to the mediocre special effects. Overall, this film failed to deliver any real entertainment value and I would not recommend it to anyone.