Posts Tagged ‘celebrating’

Every year the arrival of the summer solstice is celebrated at the mystical Stonehenge stone circle. This year a record crowd turned out to celebrate the longest day in the year. A record number of people gathered at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to celebrate this year’s summer solstice. A crowd of more than 36000 visited the ancient stone circle to watch the sunrise. Overcast skies meant there was limited sunshine, but this did little to detract from the festivities, as druids, hedonists and hippies all celebrated in their own way. The ancient ruins are a spiritual centre for Pagans who believe the summer solstice signals the marriage between the sun and the earth.

Question by Rick: In view of this, why are people celebrating easter?
The Encyclopædia Britannica comments: “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians.”—(1910), Vol. VIII, p. 828.

The Catholic Encyclopedia tells us: “A great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. . . . The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility.”—(1913), Vol. V, p. 227.

In the book The Two Babylons, by Alexander Hislop, we read: “What means the term Easter itself? It is not a Christian name. It bears its Chaldean origin on its very forehead. Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven, whose name, . . . as found by Layard on the Assyrian monuments, is Ishtar. . . . Such is the history of Easter. The popular observances that still attend the period of its celebration amply confirm the testimony of history as to its Babylonian character. The hot cross buns of Good Friday, and the dyed eggs of Pasch or Easter Sunday, figured in the Chaldean rites just as they do now.”—(New York, 1943), pp. 103, 107, 108; compare Jeremiah 7:18.

Best answer:

Answer by katie_orlandoarogorn
Chocolate!!! and work is closed on sunday so good times

Add your own answer in the comments!

Celebrating The Pagan Soul

List Price: CDN$ 17.95

Price: CDN$ 10.89

MAGIC CIRCLE OIL 15ML ritual spell wicca magic incense pagan SACRED SPACE CIRCLE

US $5.25 End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 18:23:44 PST Buy It Now for only: US $5.25 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $3.39 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 18:23:44 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

by mithrandir3

Midsummer Madness – Celebrating the Summer Solstice

Whether you’re into dancing round a bonfire with a drum or loitering round a bbq with a paper plate, the longest day is good news. Let’s just hope the weather realises it’s Summer in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend.

The Summer Solstice occurs on 20 or 21 June every year and is also known as Midsummer, Litha or St John’s Day. This year in England, the sun will rise at about 4.45am and set at 9.20pm on Saturday 21 June. Plenty of time for honouring Mother Earth and the Sun King or perhaps, the chargrilled burger and the King of Beers.

This event has been celebrated since ancient times by pagans and believers alike. These days, parties and festivals are organised across Northern Europe, Ireland, Britain, Canada, the United States and some parts of Southern Europe. If the weather’s good, millions more will be enjoying their back gardens or the beach throughout the long Summer’s day.

Typical pagan activities at Midsummer include keeping a sacred fire burning; staying up all night to welcome the rising sun at dawn; dancing ecstatically around a bonfire; burning a Yule wreath; making a pledge to Mother Earth; and exchanging magical gifts with friends.

Some non-pagans may find themselves doing similar things after one cheap beer too many. Though friends may not find it magical when you’re circling the bbq like a maniac and hurling condiments onto the grill.

Every year pagan revellers flock to Stonehenge in Wiltshire where English Heritage provides ‘managed open access’ to the stones for the Summer Solstice. Visitors can be amongst the hallowed stones this year from 8.30pm on Friday 20 June until 8.00am on Saturday 21 June.

No