Winter pagan holiday Winter pagan holiday refers to the traditional celebrations and rituals observed during the winter season by pagan cultures. These holidays are deeply rooted in ancient traditions and beliefs, often involving elements of nature worship and the cycles of the seasons. One well-known winter pagan holiday is Yule, which is traditionally celebrated around the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Yule represents the rebirth of the sun and the return of light as the days gradually begin to lengthen. It is a time to celebrate the resilience of life and the hope for a new beginning. During Yule, various customs and rituals are performed.

Judge rules on forced treatment of suspect in Okeana neighbor’s death

Family members called 911 after hearing shots and finding Anthony Lee King, 43, unresponsive and bleeding in the backyard. The family told the dispatcher that the neighbor had confronted him before about some perceived political affiliation.

HAMILTON, Ohio — A Butler County judge has ruled doctors may forcibly administer medication to a man accused of shooting and killing his neighbor. The suspect is in treatment for restoration to competency to stand trial.

The defense team opposed the measure in a hearing earlier this month, arguing doctors at Summit Behavioral Health in Cincinnati have a large list of medications they want authorized, some of which may have side effects, and they are not sure of Austin Combs’ diagnosis.

Defense attorney Chris Pagan told our partners at the Journal-News he will immediately appeal Judge Michael Oster Jr.’s decision to the 12th District Court of Appeals.

The judge’s ruling is a final appealable order, which means it can be appealed straight to the appellate court before the case moves any further. There is no trial date set.

Unless Combs agrees to take his medication, the Summit staff cannot treat him at this point.

Combs, 27, was arrested hours after the fatal shooting on Nov. 5, 2022, and was indicted for aggravated murder a week later.

Anthony Lee King, 43, died of multiple gunshot wounds in his yard that neighbored Combs’ residence. King was doing yard work at the time he was shot, according to investigators.

In March, Oster declared Combs incompetent to stand trial after reviewing evaluations from two forensic psychologists. He was deemed restorable with treatment. The court by law has a year to restore a defendant to competency.

Incompetent for trial means the accused does not understand the charges and proceedings and cannot assist in their own defense.

Oster ordered Combs be treated at the Hamilton County facility.

Combs arrived at Summit in May and has exhibited different behavior both on and off treatment, but at the end of June he began refusing to take medication and in July was accused of assaulting a worker at the facility, according to prosecutors and court records.

The misdemeanor assault charge against Combs involving the worker is pending in Hamilton County.

Combs was in court for the Aug. 3 hearing to force his treatment with medication. He was pale, very thin and looked out the courtroom window during much of the three-hour hearing.

Psychiatrist Dr. Jarrod Warren, who is treating Combs at Summit, testified when Combs entered the facility they did not observe expected “gross” mental illness behavior given his history of mental health issues as an adolescent.

“He was polite and cooperative,” Warren said, adding because of past mental health diagnoses, they expected him to display more of that behavior. “We were trying to understand what was actually going on with him.”

Four weeks later, Warren said Combs’ meal intake had “dropped off,” he had staring spells and was not receptive to anyone. At one point he was found on the floor with a sheet wrapped around his neck.

When the facility initiated a plan to keep him safe, Warren said Combs attacked the person monitoring him.

Combs was taken to UC Medical Center to determine if anything physically was wrong, and nothing was found.

“We determined his behavior was from a mental health condition,” Warren said, that’s when they believed his catatonia was part of a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Combs was treated with Ativan and it helped, Warren said. Combs was coming out of his room and eating.

When Combs began refusing medication, he got worse, according the doctor. He has been given multiple opportunities to take the meds, but is refusing.

“He is worse,” Warren said. “He got better, he has regressed,” Warren said. “I feel (if he is not treated with medication) he would actually end up hospitalized. I am most worried about his food and water intake right now.”

Combs’ attorney Chris Pagan pointed to the long list of medication that the facility wants the court to approve for forced treatment and to the multiple diagnosis of Combs’ mental condition. He noted many have serious side effects.

Warren said all the drugs would not be used for treatment, but they did not want to come back to the court for an additional hearing for use of individual drugs.

The defense attorney pointed to Combs’ multiple mental health diagnoses over the years and several at Summit.

“You want to force mood altering medication on him,” Pagan said. “(But) you can’t say he has a mood altering diagnosis at this point.”

Oster did issue specific guidelines in the ruling including “close monitoring of defendant’s health, with the understanding that treatment should stop in the face of major side-effects or other problems and a report made to the court.”

The judge also ordered because of the risk associated with certain drugs, the court should be notified immediately if Lithium and Depakote are to be utilized and “reports (are to) be submitted to the court at approximately an eight-week maximum interval to include progress towards competency and any side-effects experienced.”

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Trial date set for John Carter, suspect in fiancee Katelyn Markham's cold case murder

“It took me a few hours to kind of let it sink in,” the victim's father said.

With the trial of John Carter, who’s been charged in the cold case murder of his fiancee, Katelyn Markham, scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024, the victim’s father said he hoped a conviction would close a dark chapter in his life.

“That has been a huge and very hard time of my life for 12 years," David Markham told ABC News. "The relief that I think I am going to feel will be so welcomed and grateful."

Carter, who is now 35, reported Katelyn’s disappearance to police in Ohio in 2011. Her remains were found in rural Indiana two years later. Carter's trial is expected to begin next summer, with an opening date scheduled for June 24, 2024.

MORE: Fiancé arrested in woman’s cold case murder

In an interview days after her disappearance, Carter told ABC Cincinnati affiliate WCPO he hoped to see Katelyn again.

“I’m terrified, I’m absolutely terrified,” he said at the time. “I just want to find Katelyn and celebrate her birthday with her.”

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser included in court documents a typed poem that his office said was found in Carter’s home.

John Allen Carter was arrested on March 22, 2023, in connection with the 2011 death of his then-fiancee Katelyn Markham, in Ohio.

“Deep down I love her. You want to kill her,” it said in part. “But I love her. She must die. I can’t kill her. Yes you can. No. Yes.”

Gmoser and his team took over the cold case two years ago and said they were able to gather enough information through interviews and documents to lead to Carter’s arrest.

Markham said he was blindsided when notified by the prosecution that Carter’s arrest was imminent.

“I had no indication that they were going to arrest him,” Markham said.

A few minutes later, he found out Carter was in police custody, he said. His phone started buzzing with messages from reporters, friends and family, he said.

“It took me a few hours to kind of let it sink in,” Markham said. “The biggest feeling was relief and it's about time."

Carter's defense attorney, Chris Pagan, did not respond to ABC News' request to comment.

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During Yule, various customs and rituals are performed. Decorating homes with evergreen plants, such as holly and mistletoe, is common practice as they symbolize the eternal cycle of life. Lighting candles and bonfires is also done to symbolize the return of the sun and to bring warmth and light during the dark days of winter.

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Another important winter pagan holiday is Imbolc, which is celebrated in early February. Imbolc marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is a time to honor the goddess Brigid, who represents fertility, healing, and inspiration. People may light candles and create an altar to honor Brigid, while others may perform rituals for purification and creative inspiration. The celebration of the winter pagan holidays varies from culture to culture and may include feasting, singing songs, dancing, and exchanging gifts. These festivities bring communities together and provide an opportunity to connect with nature and the changing seasons. However, it is important to note that winter pagan holidays have been adapted and incorporated into many modern-day celebrations, such as Christmas and New Year's Eve. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, many pagan traditions were Christianized and incorporated into Christian holidays, leading to a blending of pagan and Christian practices. In conclusion, winter pagan holidays are an important part of pagan traditions and beliefs. They represent the cycles of nature, the turning of the seasons, and the hope for new beginnings. These holidays have had a lasting influence on many modern-day celebrations and continue to be observed by pagan communities around the world..

Reviews for "Yule Logs and Candlelight: Understanding the Importance of Fire in Winter Pagan Celebrations"

- John - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Winter Pagan Holiday". The writing was lackluster, the plot was slow and uninteresting, and the characters were one-dimensional. It felt like a poorly executed attempt at a holiday romance novel. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself skipping ahead just to get through the book. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating holiday read.

- Sarah - 2/5 stars - "Winter Pagan Holiday" had a promising premise, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The pacing was erratic, jumping from one scene to another without any smooth transitions. The dialogue also felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unresolved, leaving me unsatisfied as a reader. While the concept had potential, the execution was lacking, and I found myself feeling underwhelmed by the overall experience.

- Alex - 2/5 stars - I found "Winter Pagan Holiday" to be quite predictable and cliché. The love story between the main characters felt contrived and forced, lacking depth and genuine chemistry. The writing style was also inconsistent, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. While the holiday setting was charming, it wasn't enough to salvage the book for me. Overall, I felt that "Winter Pagan Holiday" was a forgettable and unenjoyable read.

The Winter Pagan Holiday Guide: Tips and Ideas for Celebrating Yule