Winter Solstice

[Jo Smith]

From: joie Sent: 11/13/2001 4:08 PM
Saturnalia
Winter Solstice in Pagan Rome

by Selena Fox


This was first published for a workshop at 1993 Circle Sanctuary Community Yule Festival.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Timing of Saturnalia
varied during the course of Roman history.
began as feast days for Saturn (December 17) and Ops (December 19).
with Julian calendar, Saturnalia on December 17 & 18; Opalia on December 19 & 20.
during the empire, extended to a week (December 17-23); longer with other holidays.

Associated holiday festivals
Consualia, end of sowing season festival (December 15).
Dies Juvenalis, Coming of Age for Young Men (mid-December).
Feast of Sol Invicta, the Unconquered Sun, set in 274 A. D. (December 25).
Brumalia, Winter Solstice on pre-Julian calendar (December 25).
Christmas (December 25), Christians move Christ's birthday to this date in 336 A.D.
Janus Day and Beginning of Calendar Year (January 1), set in 153 B.C.; again in 45 B.C.
Compitalia, blessing of the fields rural festival (January 3-5).

Deities honored around Winter Solstice time
Saturn - God of Agriculture; merged with the Greek Cronos.
Ops - Goddes of Plenty; Mother Earth; partner to Saturn and Consus.
Sol Invicta - Sun God; connected with the Persian Mithra, honored by Roman soldiers.
Consus - God of Storebin of Harvested Grain.
Juventas - Goddess of Young Manhood; related to Greek Hebe of Youthful Beauty.
Janus - God of Beginnings and Gates; Solar God of Daybreak; Creator God.

Celebrations included
merry-making
rest and relaxation
connections with family and friends
celebrating beginning of Solar year
prayers for protection of Winter crops
honoring Deities

Legacies of Saturnalia in contemporary holiday celebrations
Religious Rituals -- joining in spiritual community to honor the Divine.
Honored Figures -- Santa and Father Time -- Saturn; Holy Mother -- Ops.
Sacred Flames -- candles lit and new fires kindled to represent new Solar year.
Greens -- Holly given with gifts, homes decorated with wreaths and garlands.
Time Off from Work -- government, schools, businesses closed; multiple days off.
Peace -- dispensing of punishments suspended and courts closed; wars ceased.
Relaxing with Family and Friends -- renewing bonds, sharing celebration.
Gift Giving -- dolls to children, candles to friends; fruit symbols representing increase.
Feasting -- sharing food with family and friends; on-going eating and drinking.
Helping Less Fortunate -- class distinctions suspended; food for all; masters waiting on servants.
Exhuberant Play -- masquerades, gaming, gambling, mock king, jokes, partying, letting loose.
Paper Hats -- soft hats (pilei) worn at Saturnalia banquets to signify informality.
Dancing in the New Solar Year -- music and dancing.

[Jo Smith]

[size=4/ From: joie Sent: 11/13/2001 4:23 PM
According to Julian Date (Dec. 17)
In the Julian calendar, the Saturnalia took place on Dec. 17; it was preceded by the Consualia (Dec. 15) and followed by the Opalia (Dec. 19). The celebrations typically lasted for a week (Dec. 17-23), ending just before the (late imperial) festival for Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun) on Dec. 25 (the Solstice in the pre-Julian calendar). Before the reforms of Julius Caesar, the Saturnalia and Opalia may have been on the same day (14 before the Kalends of Jan.).
According to Solstice (Dec. 21)
At one time Dec. 17, the Julian date of the Saturnalia, was the first day of Capricornus, marking the coldest season. Since the sun now enters Capricorn on Dec. 21, the Solstice, it would be appropriate to celebrate the Saturnalia on the Solstice; the seven days of celebration would then end Dec. 27.
According to Christmas Season (Dec. 25)
The week of Saturnalian celebrations fits nicely into the Christmas-New Year week, with the Saturnalia falling on Christmas day. A variant of this is: Consualia (Dec 21/solstice), Saturnalia (Dec 24/Xmas Eve - so gifts come after ritual), Opalia (Dec 26 or 27); Saturnalia celebrations (Dec 25- 31); Lesser Dionysia (Dec 31/New Year's Eve); then Roman New Year celebrations.

From: joie Sent: 11/13/2001 5:09 PM

Since ancient times gifts have been exchanged:
the waxen candles, calling forth the Sun,
the little figures, symbols of our souls.
These inexpensive gifts have been decreed
by Saturn, so that no one will feel poor.
Now as the Sun revolves around the Earth,
and as each year the Sun returns to us,
the candle flame comes round to bring rebirth.
The lights remind us how Saturnus led
us from the murky night of ignorance,
and freed us from the dismal darkness of
starvation, to the light of wiser way

Now come around and let the adults put
their candles in this cauldron filled with Earth.
And come around and let the children place
their little figures in the Treasury.
In dedicating symbols of our souls,
we dedicate ourselves to Saturn's work,
but give ourselves through children to the task.

Saturnus brings the Sun's bright golden light
that wakens hidden seeds to come to life.
The seed is nourished in the fertile Earth,
by Saturn's wife, the Queen of Plenty, Ops.

This time of year we loosen Saturn's bonds.
The ancient God awakens from His sleep,
and rules the Earth as in the Golden Age.
Saturne, Ancient Father, hear our prayer!
As we untie Your woolen bonds this year,
so let the hidden seeds be brought to birth,
and let Your Golden Age return to Earth.


Io Saturnalia! (ho-ho-h0) (see?)
Io Saturnalia!
Io Saturnalia!
Behold the gift of Saturn! See His work!
Behold how seed and money are transformed!
And see how carefully saved and hidden seeds
become the fruits that satisfy our needs.
Come forward now and taste the fragrant fruit,
the gift of Saturn and His sister Ops.
But share it with the people near to you,
for that's the law in Saturn's Golden Age.
Continue to enjoy till all is gone.
But don't neglect the Gods when all is well;
first touch the sacred Earth of Mother Ops,
and looking skyward where Saturnus dwells,
remember these two Gods and Consus too.

You gracious Gods: Saturnus, Consus, Ops,
accept our thanks and look on us with love.
And let us see that seed corn must be saved,
that we need light to bring our seeds to fruit.
As we have done this day, so every day!

As we have done this day, so every day!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We very soon shall have our festive feast,
our little taste of Saturn's Golden Age.
Rejoice tonight for every rule's reversed!
Please dress in something comfortable
and wear a silly Saturnalia cap.
Soon one of you will be the chosen one,
the Saturnalia Ruler, picked by Chance,
to be the Lord or Lady of Misrule!
Before you leave the temple, will you please
accept a candle, take it with you too;
this way you'll take a little of the light,
the blessings of the Saturnalia.
The children too should take with them a gift,
a little earthen image, if they want;
the rest will be donated to the Earth.

The rite is ended, now all join with me,
and raise the sacred cry of Saturnalia:

Io Saturnalia! Io Saturnalia! Io Saturnalia!

Now, you who call yourselves Christians, can you not see, without any trouble, that all this x-mess comes exactly from this pagan stuff? How can you not see? with this much information available to You? It can only be that you too, love this ancient, idol. Every phase of this x-mess junk in portraied here; the lights; the gift exchanging, the decorating and partying, etc.etc.

I tell you in the name of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, He will not hold you guiltless who continue to partake of this idol worship; and as it said in the script above, use the children to do this. Did you fail to see the Santa from the North Pole? Read in Eze. about this image of jealousy from the North. This is provoking the God of Heaven, the only true and LIVING God, to jealousy and WRATH.

Will you not give up this little 'FUN TIME, FROCKLING, GIFT EXCHANGING' time to serve God acceptable? If not, how do you expect to have eternal life??

Do you ignorantly believe that Saturnous will give you eternal life?? Maybe his wife (sister?) Oops will give it to you??

Jo




size]

[Jo Smith]

From: nellie Sent: 12/20/2001 8:51 PM
It is a known, historical fact, that Martin Luther never did in his heart, really 'leave' the Catholic Church; he was ex-communicated for disputing several of their false teachings. Yet, in his heart, he was still believing in that church; therefore, nothing he said on the matter carries any real value.

Jesus told his followers if you are hit on one cheek, turn the other one. Dearly beloved, avenge NOT yourselves. All that killing each other, from all the churches, was not of God. They were all the image to the beast. True Christians did not kill anybody; for no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

It is a historical fact that Martin Luther had people killed for disagreeing with him. So did Calvin, and many of the others. They were NOT true Christians. They were murderers. They made the image to the beast. The Catholic is the beast church; the protestants are their image.
None of these churches receive or teach the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Now, you can fight to uphold those evil doings all you wish; but it will only cost you your soul in hell fire.

It is also a known, historical fact that the Catholic priests turned their backs on the congregration and said their little 'who-knows-what' mess in Latin so the people could NOT know what was being said.

It is a known fact, that they killled those men you mentioned for working on translating the Word into 'readable' English; so the common people could read it.

Jesus said the common people heard him gladly; this proves the KJV is the Word the commom people have. But, men lost their lives to give us that precious Book.

Jesus only prayed three times; Paul prayed three times about his thorne in the flesh. That is nothing in the same catagory as the Catholic priests, repeating same words sentences ; mind you , having to COUNT, TO MAKE SURE THEY DO IT THE SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIMES; 40 or 50 times; as they do in the supposed-to-be communion.

Counting silly beads and calling that praying; it is such an abomination to real worship.

If you will notice, in Rev. 18:24--And in HER (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets, (this places it back in the O.T. ---her killing God's prophets)--and of saints, (this places it is the N.T.---her killing the Christians)---and of ALL (INCLUDING ABEL)--that were slain upon the earth.

Now, this shows that this 'babylon' 'city' has existed since Cain killed Abel.

Pillar, you see a partial truth. It is a good start. But, you must realize that 'Jerusalem' is NOT that earthly city over in the East. It existed long before Jebish was captured and renamed 'Jerusalem'.

Jerusalem is the name of the city of God. This city has played the sleeper against God since Adam rebelled against God; since Cain killed Abel.

It is not the 'earthly' Jerusalem or Jews. It is false relegion. For, don't you see, that 'religion' was supposed to be the worship of God = his wife? Then if 'religion' turned to idols and worshipped (had relationships) with idols, that she then played the 'sleeper'; or committed adultry against her husband, God.

So, every false religion on earth, is Babylon. It is headed up in the N.T. times by the seven churches -- hence, the seven hills. Just because carnal minded men misinterpreted those seven hills, does not mean the Catholic church is not the head of this mystery false relegion. But, all false churches are part of it.

That 'Jerusalem' or babylon exist until God destroys it by casting it into the lake of fire. Then the Holy New Jerusalem will rule forever as the true wife of God.

Now, Jude 10---But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as BRUTE BEASTS, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11Peter 2:9-12--shows ungodly men to be brute BEASTS.

This is what I meant by the BEAST Church. It is that false church, or the mystery Babylon = the whorish Jerusalem. Same thing.

Nellie

[Jo Smith]

From: nellie Sent: 12/21/2001 4:26 PM
The Corinthian Church was a carnal church; gone back to the law. So, they had divisions. This church and the other gentile churches had already started that first of the seven- the Ephesus church. They had already 'left' their first love-=grace---and had gone back to law.

Now about 'repetitious' prayer; I think it would be very easy to go off into error here, if we are not very careful to watch what the Word teaches on this matter. I fully believe that CHANTING is what the word speaks AGAINST, as vain repetitions.

Remember, Jesus commended the lady who kept going to the unjust judge; he said he would not at first do as she asked, but because she kept coming and bothering him, he would avenge her of her adversaries. Paul said he prayed for the same ones daily.

It is not the matter of repeating the same request to God each day that is condemned; it is CHANTTING; --VAIN REPETITIONS.

I have read how the Catholic priests, in their rituals, count and say the same thing anywhere from to 40 or upwards many more times. This is what Jesus meant that they think they will be heard by their much speaking = speaking the same thing over and over. For us to keep praying for lost loved ones or any other worthy matter, is not what he meant.

Only a person who has never read much about the history and nature of the Catholic church could believe what you are saying, Rod.

They have 'statues' all over the world which they call 'mary'. but I tell you, the 'mary' they worship is NOT Jesus' Mother. It is the idol queen of heaven, which all ancient nations had and worshipped. she went by many different names but it is the same idol. The Catholic church brought in all the myths about this queen idol and her fake son. They called them Mary and Jesus to deceive the world with. But, it is still the same old idols. Else, it would be according to the Word. God forbids our making images.

I read in a history book, a lot of myths they made up about Mary and Jesus. One says that Mary interceeds in heaven for us; that when one sins and prays, that Mary stands and bears one breast and tells Jesus, now because you nursed this breast, you forgive that person what they just did.

I tell you, anyone who believes such lies and honours a church which teaches such lies, knows not one thing about truth and the real Jesus.

I meant to tell you this, also. The 'woman' in Rev. 12 is NOT Mary; it is the true church of the Lord. It is this true Church which bears the 'manchild'; which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory. It is our growing up to the full statue of the full measure of Christ. It is the whole true church.

This true Church is the one Satan, the dragon, has been persecuting all these two thousand years. The main instrument he used to do his persecution with, has been your beloved Catholic church.

None of your lies will stand up to Spiritual test.

While I am on the subject of 'images', I want to tell you all: all those 'images' you place out in front of your homes, businesses, and other places, now, calling them, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, santa clause, reigndeer, lights, etc. are just as wrong, evil and devil worship, as those kneeling and praying to the statues called Mary, JOhn, James, St Peter, At andrew: get the pitcure?

There is NO DIFFERENCE. This whole world, especially America, is absolutely FULL of idol worship. Most of you calling yourselves Christian, are GUILTY. I tell you, you had better repent if you desire to have salvation. God is going to judge all who worship IDOLS. If you put up x-mas trees, this is the worship of idols. If you string up lights, this is worship of idols.

If you do not believe me, get some good books on the subject and do a little studying.


God will not excuse your ignorance.
Nellie

[Jo Smith]

From: joie Sent: 1/3/2002 11:53 AM
One of the biggest mistakes made by church people is to believe that one must 'kneel and pray' before a 'statue or image' to be 'worshipping' it.

But this is NOT the case. I studied out the meaning of the word to 'regard'. For in Jonah, the Word said 'to regard' lying vanities, will cause one to lose their own mercy.

To 'regard' something is just to gaze at it. All you must do is to 'honour' something, or give place to it, for it to qualify as 'worhip'.

God wants all such things out of the Chirstian's lives. We must rid ourselves of all images. I have told you before, the old 'images' you use to do your x-mas and easter and halloween stuff is idol worship.

Jo

[Jo Smith]

Check out this link, on the Thanksgiving holiday. See what you think? I know in myself that none of the holidays are of God. I have known for many years that these silly traditions cannot be in honour of God.

I just read this. We might ought to place this into our holiday section. I do not like the article all the way, because of its change from the KJV.

www.yahweh.com/booklets/Thanksgiving/thanksgiving.htm