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Spellcraft and EarthMagick <SpellcraftandEarth>

"Blessed Samhain"

	I'm Pagan - - Can I Still Have a Holiday Tree?	632 días hace
	I read this today - I like the way she explained this with some nice fresh ideas Smile I'm Pagan - - Can I Still Have a Holiday Tree? The short answer to that question is: it's your house, you can decorate it any way you like. The slightly longer answer is that a lot of modern Pagans find a way to blend the Christmas traditions of their childhood with the Wiccan or Pagan beliefs they've come to embrace as adults. So yes, you can have a family Yule celebration and still have a holiday tree, and hang stockings with care by the fire. During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, celebrants often decorated their homes with clippings of shrubs, and hung metal ornaments outside on trees. Typically, the ornaments represented a god -- either Saturn, or the family's patron deity. The laurel wreath was a popular decoration as well. The ancient Egyptians didn't have evergreen trees, but they had palms -- and the palm tree was the symbol of resurrection and rebirth. They often brought the fronds into their homes during the time of the winter solstice. Early Germanic tribes decorated trees with fruit and candles in honour of Odin for the solstice. These are the folks who brought us the words Yule and wassail, as well as the tradition of the Yule Log! In other words, if you want to have a decorated tree for the holiday, don't let anyone tell you it doesn't have Pagan origins. Obviously, you probably won't want to hang a little baby Jesus or a bunch of crosses on it like your Christian neighbours, but there are a ton of other things out there you can use. Suns and solar ornaments - raid the craft stores and find stars to turn into suns Gods Eyes - make then out of cinnamon sticks and seasonal coloured yarn or ribbons Pipecleaner pentacles -- make them out of shiny chenille stems, bent into stars with circles around them Natural objects like acorns, feathers, holly, mistletoe or pine cones Lights, lights, and more lights Magical items -- cups, wands, or daggers Fertility symbols -- eggs, antlers, horns So what about a tree topper? Usually, they're found pre-made as angels, but you could substitute a star, a Santa Claus, or some other item that strikes you as appropriate -- one of the best tree toppers I ever saw was actually a tin Green Man wall hanging. The bottom line is, if you want to have a holiday tree for Yule, then go right ahead and have one. Decorate it in the way that speaks to you, and enjoy your holiday -- after all, the Winter Solstice only comes once a year! From Patti Wigington, Your Guide to Paganism / Wiccan.
	escrito por Spellcraft and EarthMagick