Julnir, or something
Nov. 23rd, 2011 08:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lonesparkPagans love to talk about Santa. Not that we are the only ones. But there is always a big round of, "is Santa a god?" and then among Heathens, "Is Santa Odin?" and Thor, too and Frey and...
Which, ok, in many (most?) Heathen places and times the Yule-father is an Odinic-type Wild-Hunt-leading sort bringing magic and omens and whatnot. Also I was reading up on Frau Holle, and how she closely resembles Frigg, and I would like to know more because it's really helping me see a side of Her I've never had a strong connection with. So now whenever I see those depictions of Mrs. Claus knitting away I am delighted.
I like Yule Beings of many varieties and I think they can be spirits in their own right and it's all good. Yule celebrations are awesome in their variety and enthusiasm. I am a big fan of the jolly feasting Ghost of Christmas Present types, and elves and winter fairies and Jack Frost and the Lord of Misrule.
The town I live in has lots of Victorian houses and people who take restoration and research on the period quite seriously. We have a fall fair like everybody in New England, but ours is the Victorian Fair. And apparently "Victorian Christmas decorations" are a thing that stores on Main Street sell. I'm not that familiar with Victorian traditions that way, but I think I tend to like them because they tend to be not All About the Jesus, plus with nature and other kinds of imagery I enjoy.
The rest of the year I don't feel particularly marginalized, religiously speaking, living in this Christian household, but when the manger scene comes out, along with a bunch of books about Little Baby Jesus, it gets less comfortable. The UU church we attend is not helping. They have a "holiday pageant," and they are recruiting for Wise Persons and camels. I intend to be proactive and at least line up a pagan Yule activity to take the kids to. I don't mind Christmas, in its commercialized folklore glory. And I don't mind my mom doing her Jesus thing. I just want it to be clear to the kids that it's hers.
Which, ok, in many (most?) Heathen places and times the Yule-father is an Odinic-type Wild-Hunt-leading sort bringing magic and omens and whatnot. Also I was reading up on Frau Holle, and how she closely resembles Frigg, and I would like to know more because it's really helping me see a side of Her I've never had a strong connection with. So now whenever I see those depictions of Mrs. Claus knitting away I am delighted.
I like Yule Beings of many varieties and I think they can be spirits in their own right and it's all good. Yule celebrations are awesome in their variety and enthusiasm. I am a big fan of the jolly feasting Ghost of Christmas Present types, and elves and winter fairies and Jack Frost and the Lord of Misrule.
The town I live in has lots of Victorian houses and people who take restoration and research on the period quite seriously. We have a fall fair like everybody in New England, but ours is the Victorian Fair. And apparently "Victorian Christmas decorations" are a thing that stores on Main Street sell. I'm not that familiar with Victorian traditions that way, but I think I tend to like them because they tend to be not All About the Jesus, plus with nature and other kinds of imagery I enjoy.
The rest of the year I don't feel particularly marginalized, religiously speaking, living in this Christian household, but when the manger scene comes out, along with a bunch of books about Little Baby Jesus, it gets less comfortable. The UU church we attend is not helping. They have a "holiday pageant," and they are recruiting for Wise Persons and camels. I intend to be proactive and at least line up a pagan Yule activity to take the kids to. I don't mind Christmas, in its commercialized folklore glory. And I don't mind my mom doing her Jesus thing. I just want it to be clear to the kids that it's hers.
