Happy Holidays!

[Storm]

No, I'm not being PC; I celebrate two (well, I've lapsed, but still): my own weird take on Winter Solstice, and (gasp!) Christmas. I thought I'd take a moment to explain why. ETA: For anyone confused by my terminology, the OP of the thread linked in my sig is a glossary.

Christmas first:
I believe Jesus was an Avatar. From my theology thread:
Avatars/Elders incarnate:
Elders can incarnate to teach important lessons directly; these incarnations are Avatars. Avatar refers specifically to the mortal vessel, whereas Elder incarnate refers to the rhys. The hallmark of Avatars is that their lives illustrate the message they taught. This isn't a definitive trait, but it is a very reliable clue.
Elders:
Those individual rhys who have fully Become. Guides and teachers for their younger siblings (us). Somewhat akin to the bodhisattvas of some Buddhist sects.

So, I honor Him in my own way, and that includes celebrating His birth.

I know, I know, he wasn't actually born on December 25th, and probably not even in winter. I don't care.

I feast, I gift, and I take Communion (or whatever the Protestants call it).

Why Communion, you ask? Because, all theology aside, it's how He asked to be remembered.

Then there's the Solstice, from my neopagan days.
The Solstice, to me, marks the rebirth of the Dying God, and the transformation of the Goddess from Crone to Maiden, making it the perfect holiday in which to also honor the miracle of children.

While I'm no longer neopagan, I still find tremendous value and meaning in doing this.

On the night of the Solstice, I stay awake until dawn, preferably telling stories to the kids. No light is allowed at first, in recognition of the Dying God's link to the sun. When the first glimmer of light appears on the horizon, someone (preferably male) ceremoniously lights a candle, to signify the Dying God's rebirth.

Then comes the celbration: again, giving gifts to children, feasting, and generally making merry.


Please not that this thread is in the UU DIR. IF there's something you wish to debate, I invite you to create a spin-off thread in an appropriate area.

So, to all my friends (and even those of you I detest ) a happy holidays!

[Storm]

So, last night I went to the Young Adults Spiritual Circle, and th topic was Christmas.

I had the surreal experience of being the most Christian person in the room. Not wrt to Jesus' teachings, but the religious trappings.

I thought it rather funny.

[Baydwin]

Originally Posted by Storm

So, last night I went to the Young Adults Spiritual Circle, and th topic was Christmas.

I had the surreal experience of being the most Christian person in the room. Not wrt to Jesus' teachings, but the religious trappings.

I thought it rather funny.

So, were there lots of anti-Christian pagans there?

[Storm]

Originally Posted by Baydwin

So, were there lots of anti-Christian pagans there?

No, mostly live and let live atheists and assorted non-believers.

It was just weird being the ONLY person with ANY religious ties to Christmas whatsoever.

[Baydwin]

How come there were so many atheists and non-believers at a "spiritual circle"?

[Storm]

Dude, it's a UU church.

The Spiritual Circles are basically a discussion group for the Young Adults community. Some are more spiritual than others. Last one was personality types.

[Baydwin]

I notice that you seem to keep the celebration of Christmas and the solstice quite separate. Do you do so because of respect to the different traditions, or because they were not easy to syncretise?
And what do you think of traditions, such as Christian Wicca, that do attempt such a synchronisation of diverse belief systems?

[Storm]

Originally Posted by Baydwin

I notice that you seem to keep the celebration of Christmas and the solstice quite separate. Do you do so because of respect to the different traditions, or because they were not easy to syncretise?

More the former, but it honestly never occured to me to blend them.

And what do you think of traditions, such as Christian Wicca, that do attempt such a synchronisation of diverse belief systems?

I admire their resourceful creativity! LOL

Seriously, I don't know how they do it, much less why, but if it works for them, I wish them well.

[Charity]

Happy Holidays to you Storm, and I wish the best for you in the coming New Year...

[Storm]

Thank you, sweetie! Same to you.