Month: December 2013

In The Broom Closet: Celebrating Yule

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Yule is in just a few days! Celebrating Yule can be a tricky situation for any pagan with close relatives who are skeptical of other religions, especially one who is in the broom closet. If you live with people you are not yet out to, it can be difficult to do a ritual, but there are many other ways to honor the God and Goddess this time of year.

One advantage to Yule, over other pagan holidays, is that I find that my family are more open to lighting candles this time of year. My parents are quite strict when it comes to open flames in the house, but they are more lenient during the winter months. It’s always pleasant to have the extra heat, not matter how little. I particularly love the smell of sugar cookie candles for the holiday season. I always find myself staring at the flickering flame. It relaxes me.

Various plants that are associated with the holidays can attribute this to their pagan backgrounds. When your relatives are decorating the traditional Christmas tree, you can appreciate its importance  to your religion, as well. Many people know bringing a tree indoors during the cold months is a pagan tradition. It was meant to keep nature safe during the harsh winter season. Poinsettias and mistletoe are other plants that are common during the holiday season, but they are not often recognized as having their beginnings in paganism. Kissing under the mistletoe is a well-known tradition. It was based off the fact that ancient pagans believed it to be helpful in fertility workings. Poinsettias represent joy, good luck, and celebration, suiting the theme of the holidays.

Enjoying holiday treats is another way to celebrate Yule, even in the presence of those who do not observe it. Baking cookies for Santa is an age-old tradition. Candy canes are also popular. Eggnog is one of my personal favorites. There’s nothing quite like the smooth taste of cold eggnog around the holidays (with or without alcohol). Food is a holiday tradition which people of any religious background can relate. Don’t forget to make an offering to the God and Goddess!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips on celebrating Yule in the broom closet. Happy Holidays and Blessed Yule! )O(

Fox News’ War on Religious Freedom

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Once again, the lovely people over at Fox are complaining that there’s a “War on Christmas”. They claim that saying “Merry Christmas” is looked down upon. They seem to feel forced to say “Happy Holidays”, instead. They state how horrible it is that religious Christmas decorations are scarce in public areas. The infamous Bill O’Rielly spoke out, saying since Hanukkah will be over soon there is no need to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. To him, Hanukkah is the only other holiday he could possibly conceive of anyone celebrating this time of year. (Yule, anyone?) Fox News has a map of locations in which they feel that their rights to Christmas have been violated. The interesting thing is that not all of these stories are actually about the “War on Christmas”. Some of them are in fact, quite the opposite. One mentions that Alabama wants to give teachers the right to wish students a “Merry Christmas” in public schools, not take it away. Does that sound like a “War on Christmas” to you? Here’s a link to the page, in case anyone is wondering exactly what Fox is whining about: http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/12/04/war-christmas

When Fox News reports on the “War on Christmas”, they conveniently forget about the war on religious freedom. They refuse to believe that people exist who do not share their own religion. Unless there comes a day when crosses, stars of David, and pentacles can all be displayed in public, then none of it should be. When a nativity scene in every town square is pushed for, it takes away freedom from other religious backgrounds. Until songs about the Winter Solstice can be sung at school programs, you better bet that pagans won’t want their children singing “Joy to the World”, while their own beliefs are pushed to the side. Fox News claims that Christians are the victims, they don’t here people say “Merry Christmas” as much as they used to. But until pagans feel safe saying “Blessed Yule” to people they meet on the street, then I suppose we all must say “Happy Holidays”.