Pagan holidays made simple for beginners Paganism, which refers to a variety of spiritual beliefs and practices, celebrates a number of unique holidays throughout the year. For beginners, understanding these holidays can be overwhelming, but breaking them down into simple components can help navigate this rich and diverse tradition. One of the most well-known holidays in Paganism is Samhain, which occurs on October 31st. Samhain represents the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is a time to honor ancestors and connect with the spirit world. **The main idea of Samhain is to celebrate the cycle of life and death and honor the spirits of the past.
The celebration occurred around the Ides of March — an infamous holiday of sorts respecting the assassination of Julius Caesar. The boys would don new purple clothing to signify themselves becoming full citizens of Rome.
Once the sacrifices and feasting simmered down, the men of the festivities, or Luperci , as they called them, would cut throngs off of newly sacrificed goats and go around whipping random women in the streets. Equinoxes, changes in the seasons, and astrological events have been observed by humanity for millennia as the natural calendar that dictated our very survival.
**The main idea of Samhain is to celebrate the cycle of life and death and honor the spirits of the past.** Another significant holiday is Imbolc, celebrated on February 2nd. Imbolc marks the early signs of spring and the return of light after the darkness of winter.
Library Topic: Pagan Holidays
The holidays of this world counterfeit God's holy days, but it is obvious that they are very different. God warns us not to be involved in them.
New Year's Eve may seem like an innocuous, secular holiday, but it, too, has ties to ungodly, pre-Christian customs and religious practices.
New Year's celebrations often involve drunkenness, debauchery, and adultery. God commands us to separate ourselves from these customs and traditions of the world.
New Years, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and birthdays all originate in paganism. Satan entices many into accepting these pagan practices through emotional appeals.
Because of the pagan origins of Christmas, increasing numbers of Christians realize that one cannot 'put Christ' back into something in which He never was.
The pagan origins of Christmas are well known. How can Christians practice something that has always been anti-God? Is this worshiping 'in spirit and in truth'?
The Catholic Church chose December 25 as the date of Jesus' birth, centuries after the fact. However, internal biblical evidence gives a very different story.
The true story of Jesus' birth has been syncretized into a non-Christian festival, and even that has been obscured by a wrong date and a phony crèche scene.
If there is indeed a 'war on Christmas,' then let Rome defend it, for it was pagan Rome that co-opted the winter solstice and inserted the presumed birth of Jesus.
As another Christmas season approaches, many in God's church, including our children, dread having to endure it. We can help them understand God's way.
Christmas is a very blatant form of syncretism, the blending of diverse religious practices. The origins of Christmas testify of why we should reject it.
Decorating with evergreens, festivals of lights, and the practice of giving dolls as gifts in the middle of winter all originate in pagan festivals.
Orthodoxy in virtually every aspect of life has been discarded, indicating how perverse human nature is in its determination to rebel against God.
No one wants to have his traditions or treasured fantasies burst. But when a real Christian is presented with truth, he embraces it out of reverence for God.
Christmas, Easter, and Halloween all derive from sex, fertility, and sun worship. Christmas traces to the incestuous relationship of Semiramis and Nimrod.
Did Christmas come from the Bible or paganism? Here are the origins of the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, mistletoe, the holly wreath, and exchanging gifts.
The origins of Valentine's Day and its tenuous association with 'Saint Valentine' clearly point to something other than true love.
Halloween is the second-most popular holiday. This night not only lacks biblical foundation, but the Bible warns us against participating in such activities.
St. Valentine's Day started as a lewd, sensual, pagan festival in Rome. Lupercalia is a rite connected with fertility, honoring Venus, the goddess of sex.
Many think keeping Christmas is fine, yet God never tells us to celebrate His Son's birth. Celebrating such an obvious mix of biblical truth and paganism is presumptuous.
God never accepts worship that comes from human reasoning and the traditions of man. The starting point for worship must always be God and His revelation.
Galatians 4:9-10 is a favorite crutch of those who claim Christians no longer need to observe God's holy days. However, Paul's meaning is quite different.
Catholics eat fish on Friday as a form of penance, commemorating Christ's supposed death on 'Good' Friday. During pagan Lent, eating fish on Friday is mandatory.
Jesus said He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb, but that is impossible in a Friday crucifixion, Sunday resurrection scenario. Here's the biblical truth.
If Christmas is Christ's birthday, it is strange that everybody else except Christ receives a gift. All of its symbols derive from pagan sources.
When did Jesus rise from the rich man's tomb? The world—because of tradition—says Sunday, but the Bible reveals the only possible timing of His resurrection.
February 14, Valentine's Day, may seem harmless enough, until the truth of its origins comes to light. Here is what lies behind this licentious, pagan day.
Valentine's Day, firmly rooted in paganism, concentrates on lust and sexual immorality, which are contrary to the way of life that pleases God.
Most Americans do not believe in demonic spirits enough to think of Halloween as a celebration of them. Rather, Halloween is a massive escape from reality.
God established the weekly Sabbath on the seventh day of Creation; He established His Holy Days (moedim) on the fourth day. These are His appointments.
Christ has never been in man's holidays, which are built on lies, and which teach children they cannot trust the veracity of their own parents.
Easter is not a Christian name, but belongs to the idolatrous 'queen of heaven.' Here are the origins of Easter eggs and sunrise services, which pre-date Christ.
If we are going to search for truth, we should not be seeking it in the philosophies of men, but rather in the fullness of truth found in God's revelation.
Both Israel and Judah during Hosea's time adopted paganism from the surrounding nations. Syncretistic religion blends paganism and Christianity.
A scriptural explanation of the time of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, showing that He died on a Wednesday and rose from the dead on the Sabbath.
Good and evil do not mix; we cannot associate with what is wrong. The proper fear of God plays a significant role in ridding evil from our lives.
If we do not keep God's holy days, we will deprive ourselves of the knowledge of God's purpose. Jesus and the first century church observed and upheld these days.
True Christians do not celebrate Halloween. It is pagan in origin and practice and will destroy one's relationship with God. Light and darkness cannot mix.
Valentine's Day dates back to the Roman fertility ritual honoring Lupercus, the god of the hunt and fertility. The day is not about love, but lust.
We must be on guard for the incremental nature of gray areas. Godly reasoning recognizes no gray areas; just because something is lawful does not mean it is good.
We need to follow Nehemiah's example in submitting to God, focusing on the right goals, having wisdom in handling complex situations, and having courage.
Most people consider the second commandment to deal with making or falling down before a pagan idol, but it covers all aspects of the way we worship.
In Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:9-10, Paul was warning against mixing Gnostic asceticism and pagan customs with the keeping of God's Sabbath and Holy Days.
Jeroboam, pragmatic and fearful, established a more convenient idolatrous festival to prevent his people from keeping the real Feast of Tabernacles in Judah.
How and why a person keeps the Sabbath determines whether this test commandment is really a sign between God and His people or an act of futility.
Things written in the Old Testament were written for us. The differences in the covenants focus on justification and access to God, not doing away with the law.
What we believe automatically determines what we do; it is impossible to separate faith and works. If Jesus is not our source of belief, our works will suffer.
Israel had every opportunity that the Gentiles did not have. God gave the Israelites gifts to live a better way, but they completely failed to reflect Him.
The spirit of Babylon is one of self-determination and independence, antagonistic toward every institution of God, even something as basic as God-given gender.
As we age, the pressures of life, work, and experience all contribute to wearing us down. Only a few seem to have learned to remain happy despite hardship.
Persecution involves a wide spectrum, ranging from torture, physical beating, social excommunication, imprisonment and death. Our boldness should match Paul's.
Two of Daniel's prophecies differ by 75 days, perhaps paralleling the 75 dramatic days between the resurrections of Lazarus and Jesus Christ.
The church must forcefully deal with the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness or it too will succumb to the terrifying vortex of despair.
Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to follow the example of Christ rather than placing their desire to be right over unity. Godly leadership follows submission.
A person who is puffed up parades his knowledge by exhibiting impatience, intolerance, or a false modesty, marginalizing what the uneducated in their minds.
The last days of the Worldwide Church of God demonstrated a dearth of righteous judgment. God expects us to judge wisely within the parameters of His Law.
The world is confused on the timing of Christ's death and resurrection. It becomes clear by a proper understanding of the holy days, preparation days, and Sabbaths.
Israel demonstrates divided loyalties, vacillating between God and the world, veering more toward the world, resembling a panting dog or a pleasure-bent prostitute.
There are no hollow threats with God Almighty. God will destroy disobedient people with the diseases of Egypt, cutting down our life-expectancy.
As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are strangers, foreigners, aliens, or pilgrims to the world, but full-fledged citizens of God's Kingdom.
We must reorient our focus onto God's Word and His message of hope, never giving up our quest for righteousness and integrity in the midst of immorality.
We should be willing to give up anything for the Kingdom, controlling our speech, thoughts, behaviors, and lives. We cannot grow in grace without works.
Unlike tumultuous waves, the sea of glass before God's throne is tranquil and serene. Before we can stand on this sea of glass, we must be set apart and cleansed.
Works demonstrate our faith, our response to God's calling and His freely given grace. Reciprocity is always a part of our relationship with God.
Leprosy is a horrible disease, one that the ancients said could only be cured by God Himself. Jesus' healing of a leper manifested His divine power and mercy.
Samson had what it took but made horrible mistakes and lapses in judgment. God can use people despite their flawed character.
The Bible shows a clear pattern of how people leave the faith: looking back, drawing back, looking elsewhere, and then going backward and refusing to hear.
The Sermon on the Mount contains a explanation of what it takes to be a Christian. Matthew 5:38-42 provides the principles behind the 'above and beyond' attitude.
The Greek word 'logos' has been negatively loaded with unbiblical meanings. Its basic meaning is 'word' or 'saying,' yet it is really more complex.
Following Jesus requires absolute commitment, often involving sacrifice and discomfort. We must be willing to give up family and societal ties for God's sake.
Joy and gladness are gifts from God, resulting from Christ living His life in us and helping us to love the brethren. This love is perfected through suffering.
John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of the 'Elijah to come.' We must apply duality of prophecy carefully and cautiously rather than indiscriminately.
A lack of self-control, as well as the cultivation of self-indulgent perversions, will characterize large segments of our society living at the end times.
Our lives must be totally wrapped up in Christ, exemplifying His character. As we overcome, taking the same steps as Christ did, we will receive His reward.
Old Testament activities picture New Testament realities, elevated to their spiritual intent. The church has been chosen as a royal and holy priesthood.
The Sabbath rest depicts the miracle of conversion, in which the transformation of mankind into God's image brings about a rest in which God takes pleasure.
We must lay aside every weight, accept God's chastening, receive encouragement from those who have gone before, and get back into the spiritual race.
No part of God's Law has been 'done away'. Jesus came to magnify the law, giving it a far more penetrating, spiritual application. Man flounders without law.
The prophecies concerning the Man of Sin refer to a person with great political power with global significance rather than to a leader of a small church.
The valley-of-shadow imagery symbolizes the fears, trials, and tests needed to produce character, quality fruit, and an intimate trust in the shepherd.
A community can only be established upon a foundation of stability and truth. Our relationships must be based upon God's truth, producing faithfulness.
The book of John provides a plethora of signs corroborating Christ's authenticity and also shows how to live as God would live if He were a man.
The overriding motivation for the individuals bringing to Jesus the woman caught in adultery was to trap Him, impaling Him on the horns of a dilemma.
Ave, Caesar! Io, Saturnalia!
It is a time for purification and renewal. **The main idea of Imbolc is to welcome the coming of spring and embrace new beginnings.** Beltane, observed on May 1st, is a celebration of fertility and the peak of spring. It is a time to honor the union of the god and goddess and embrace the vitality of life. **The main idea of Beltane is to celebrate the abundance of nature and the joy of creation.** Lughnasadh, occurring on August 1st, signifies the first harvest and the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to show gratitude for the bountiful gifts of the earth. **The main idea of Lughnasadh is to acknowledge the fruits of our labor and give thanks for the abundance of the harvest.** Yule, celebrated around December 21st, marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It is a time to welcome the return of the sun and the promise of light. **The main idea of Yule is to celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the hope for new beginnings.** By simplifying the main ideas of these pagan holidays, beginners can gain a better understanding of their significance and be able to participate more fully in these unique and meaningful celebrations..
Reviews for "Pagan Holidays Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide"
1. John - 2/5 - "I was really disappointed with this book. I was hoping for a more in-depth and comprehensive guide to pagan holidays, but this book only scratched the surface. The information provided was very basic and left me wanting more. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacked any real enthusiasm or passion for the subject. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a detailed exploration of pagan holidays."
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "I found 'Pagan holidays made simple for beginners' to be extremely misleading. The title suggests a beginner-friendly guide to understanding pagan holidays, but instead, it was filled with unclear explanations and jargon that made it even more confusing for someone with no prior knowledge of the topic. The lack of clear organization and structure also made it difficult to follow along. I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with this book."
3. Mark - 2/5 - "As a beginner, I was excited to learn more about pagan holidays, but unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations. The information provided was very superficial and lacked any real depth. Additionally, there wasn't enough practical advice or guidance on how to celebrate these holidays. It felt more like a brief overview rather than a comprehensive guide for beginners. I would recommend looking for other resources if you're genuinely interested in learning about pagan holidays."
4. Emily - 3/5 - "While 'Pagan holidays made simple for beginners' did provide some basic information about pagan holidays, I found it to be too simplistic for someone who wants to dive deeper into the subject. The writing style felt more suited for a children's book rather than an informative guide. Additionally, there were several instances of grammatical errors and typos, which made it difficult to take the book seriously. Overall, it could have been more informative and better edited."