Pages

Monday, December 24, 2012

The True Meaning Of?

Good Morning, My Friends!

In the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, let's not forget what December 25 was originally all about: 

Sol Invictus, "The unconquerable Sun." 

That's right, it was a pagan holiday during the days of the Roman Empire, more than 2000 years ago. It celebrated the "Birth of the Sun" as it "rose from the death" of winter on what was then the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.


The holiday was usually celebrated as the birth of a Solar Deity. In Persian areas of the Empire, for example, they used the deity Mithras to personify it, a deity who was born as a human in a cave on the 25th, performed miracles during his ministry, including changing water to wine at a wedding, came to redeem all mankind, was betrayed and murdered by the very people he meant to redeem, and, was said to have risen from death three days later, around the spring equinox.... As you might notice, it was pretty simple for the fledgling Christian cult to borrow and eventually take over the dates, with similar wording.... 


So remember, the TRUE "reason for the season": The growing of days, and the coming of Spring. That is something to celebrate, whether you believe in science or not.


Merry Mithramas,

~ your friendly neighborhood born-again pagan philosopher

No comments:

Post a Comment