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Merry Mithrias Christ mas


From an email conversation, some time in 2007, or maybe 2008, I'm not sure? I was definitely in December though.
What is Mithriasmas?

Well, funny you should ask. I made up the name of the event based on the name of the Persian God of Light, Mithrias (sometimes "Mithra", or "Mithras"). His birthday, December 25th, was actively being celebrated (and had been for a very long time) while the Roman empire was trying to get people to celebrate the birth of Jesus. After unsuccessful attempts to quash the celebration of Mithrias on the 25th, the Roman Emperor declared that Jesus was born on December 25th, thus making the transition from one deity to the next successful at last.

Virtually all Christmas traditions are borrowed from pre-Christian celebrations of Winter Solstice, for example "Yule", which was celebrated in northern Europe. One popular origin of the word yule has it derived from Old Norse meaning "wheel" where its use symbolizes the circling of the sun and is significant at winter solstice which is the turning point where days no longer grow shorter and the longer days of spring and summer begin.

But what about trees? Well, I'm glad you asked:
     During ancient Scandinavian solstice celebrations, apples would be hung from evergreens to remind them of the fruit bearing trees that, with the days beginning to grow longer as spring approached, would be blossoming soon. Some records say the first "Christmas Tree" was decorated in Alsace, Germany, in 1521, though other church records place it elsewhere and in 1539. Regardless, the tradition comes from ancient Germanic cultures and traditions that existed long before Christianity.

Something else to think about: Australia, a former British colony, celebrates Christmas with the same traditions as us. They typically put up their trees on December 1st....about a week before SUMMER holidays begin!

What's the moral of the story?
     Well, for whatever reason you decide to put up a tree, have a feast, or exchange gifts with family and friends, it is important not to criticize who does or does not share those traditions because no matter what you believe the reasoning and history of your traditions to be, they are almost definitely borrowed from someone else, where the served some other purpose, in some other time.




Feel free to argue by email, or in my guestbook. I might even respond to you.

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