NationStates Jolt Archive

As I reflect on the holiday season, I came across something that while it's not world breaking, or shocking, it does raises a point to why we really celebrate Jesus's birth in December even though he was most likely born in either Spring or Fall. As stated by many others, This time of year is the Winter Solace, and is celebrated by many pagan religion. Of course the Catholic Church wanting to convert Paganist to Christianity, they conveniently moved Jesus's birthday to December. Everyone knows the carol "12 Days of Christmas", well actually there was a 12 days winter celebration by the Norse people (today Asatru)

Yule 21 - Mother Night: As the night before the Winter Solstice, this is the time when the New Year is born. We honor the beginning of Sunnas return and the breaking of Winter’s spell. This is a time to honor Thor and Freyr, celebrate by Blot, Sumbel, and High Feast. Burn a Yule Log and jump the flames for luck and purification.

Yule 22 - High Feast of Yule - Beginning of Runic Year - Sacred to Thorr and Freyr

Yule 31 - Twelfth Night: This culminates the traditional twelve days of Yule. Each day of which is a month of the preceding year in miniature. Reflect on the past year. Take stock and lay a course for the future. Make New Years resolutions in the old way by swearing your oath on Freyr’s boar or on your Hammer.
http://asatru.org/Holidays.html

This page also explains the 12 days celebration.

http://asatru.org/yule.html

Finally, a pretty good refutted that Jesus was not born on Dec. 25th and why we celebrate his birth on Dec. 25th.

http://www.asatru.org/RavenKindred/Jesusborn.html

Personally I just find all of this interesting.

As I reflect on the holiday season, I came across something that while it's not world breaking, or shocking, it does raises a point to why we really celebrate Jesus's birth in December even though he was most likely born in either Spring or Fall. As stated by many others, This time of year is the Winter Solace, and is celebrated by many pagan religion. Of course the Catholic Church wanting to convert Paganist to Christianity, they conveniently moved Jesus's birthday to December. Everyone knows the carol "12 Days of Christmas", well actually there was a 12 days winter celebration by the Norse people (today Asatru)

http://asatru.org/Holidays.html

This page also explains the 12 days celebration.

http://asatru.org/yule.html

Finally, a pretty good refutted that Jesus was not born on Dec. 25th and why we celebrate his birth on Dec. 25th.

http://www.asatru.org/RavenKindred/Jesusborn.html

Personally I just find all of this interesting.

It's like second grade history class all over again...

i dont think there was a time when jesus' birthday was celebrated on the "correct" date. i think that the winter festivals were just made into christian ones in the most convenient ways possible.

i dont think there was a time when jesus' birthday was celebrated on the "correct" date. i think that the winter festivals were just made into christian ones in the most convenient ways possible.

True. Sometimes I wonder how much material are borrowed from other faith. I mean we know Christianity already borrowed from Judaisms, Zoroastrianism, and Norse. There's also the Gilgamesh tale.

"Winters depress me," Humanity mused. "I know! Presents for everybody! How can I make a buck off this?"

"Winters depress me," Humanity mused. "I know! Presents for everybody! How can I make a buck off this?"

Precisely. Winter celebrations are highly ingrained in northern European culture, and stem from the need for joy during the winter months, where many people north of a certain latitude experience seasonal affective depression. Everything else is just the excuse.

Precisely. Winter celebrations are highly ingrained in northern European culture, and stem from the need for joy during the winter months, where many people north of a certain latitude experience seasonal affective depression. Everything else is just the excuse.

Wine and whores or Playstation 3. Humanity really hasn't changed much.

It's like second grade history class all over again...

Pity they don't teach this stuff in American schools, yah?

But of course the religious community would be up in arms, not to mention dozens of idiot parents. :rolleyes:

Presents!