"There in the Temple, carved in wood,

The image of great Odin stood,
And other gods, with Thor supreme among them."

As early as two thousand years before Christ Yule-tide was celebrated by the Aryans. They were sun-worshipers and believed the sun was born each morning, rode across the upper world, and sank into his grave at night.

Day after day, as the sun's power diminished, these primitive people feared that he would eventually be overcome by darkness and forced to remain in the under world.

When, therefore, after many months, he apparently wheeled about and grew stronger and stronger, they felt that he had been born again. So it came about that at Hweolor-tid, " the turning-time," 1 there was great rejoicing at the annual re-birth of the sun.

In the myths and legends of these, our Indo-European ancestors, we find the origin of many of the Yule-tide customs now in vogue.

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For quite some time, I have understood that the foundation of many of our Christmas and holiday traditions in the US orginated in pagan cultures.  I have no problem with this ... We all use what we are familiar with to understand the world around us and that includes new knowledge.  I believe this is what happened with many of these tranditions.  They have simply carried forward into what is now celebrated as any of the major holidays we celebrate in this time.  Most Christians understand that Jesus was not actually born on December 25, but I don't find the date we celebrate of vital importance, but rather that we understand what it is we choose to celebrate.

Personally, I find a vast majority of what many talk about and do during this time fruitless and vain ... sorry, I do!    I understand wanting to give something nice to those we love, but ... I have never understood the rampant self-indulgence of the season.  Nothing could be further from the message of Christ or the biblical message than ... "I want ..."  "Charge it!"  yada yada yada ... It has frustrated me for years.  Oh well ...

This year, for the first time in many years, I am actually enjoying the season.  The pressure is off.  I can relax and enjoy my kids ... Soldiergirl will trek home next Friday for 2 weeks and we will have a wonderful time just being a FAMILY!  Few, if any, actual gifts will be exchanged, but much love will be shared and expressed in as many ways as I (and we) can think of ... from baking yummy cookies together to playfully (because we aren't good enough to do it seriously) singing the "Messiah" ... to driving around to look at Christmas light displays ... In my mind, EVERYTHING (except the malls) declare the joy of God's love expressed in the manger of Bethlehem, so ... it's OK!