Every year around this time people start posting about the War on Christmas.(SOURCE)  Someone posts something about an Atheist making people use X instead of Christ in Christmas. Someone starts a discussion about being forced to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

Let's start with Xmas.  You see X is actually the Greek letter CHI which when translated becomes CHRIST.  (SOURCE)  So the use of the X in place of Christ in Christmas actually can be traced back to the 1700's.  It isn't some new way to declare some sort of war on baby Jesus or those who believe that it is Jesus' birthday.  It is a literal translation and was even used in advertising as seen below.

Photo Credit - Wikipedia Advertisement from December 1922 issue of the Ladies Home Journal, showing use of abbreviation "Xmas". Artwork by Coles Phillips.

Now let's talk about the nativity scene.  The first nativity is credited to Saint Francis of the Assisi in 1223 in an effort to encourage people to follow Christianity.  (SOURCE)  In the United States in 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that placing a religious icon on government property placed an unfair emphasis on that particular religion which violates the separate of church and state clause in the US Constitution.  In 1985 in a separate case the court ruled that unless equal access was granted to non-religious icons of the holidays they too violated the Constitution - This was known as the Reindeer Rule.  (SOURCE)  There's a story on Huffington Post (I know some call this a biased source) that offers info on the case from Santa Monica CA - (SOURCE)  In this case a group simply wanted the same access to an area of Palisades Park where nativity scenes were placed for years.

Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337), Basilique Assise, Legend of St Francis, Institution of the Crib at Greccio

My take on this is simply this.  Why is it necessary for courthouses, public buildings or lands to host religious displays?  Why is it that when we say, you have the freedom to put your nativity in your yard, but don't put it in the court house all of a sudden there is some sort of war on nativities?  I've also noticed a ton of  "_______ is the reason for the season."   Insert everything from Jesus, to Baphoment to pond scum.  The "reason" we have seasons is because of the earth's axis.  That's it.

Photo Credit - NASA

As far as being forced to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas or have a Holiday Party instead of a Christmas Party, Ummm, who is forcing you to do this?  Who is showing up at your house and changing the words on your invitations?  Who is telling you you cannot have a Christmas Party?  I'd love to see any evidence of this at all.  Show one single place where someone said, "You cannot have a Christmas Party any more."  Please.  Just one.  I want to see it.

Artist Unknown

There are dozens of groups celebrating during December including Christians.  (SOURCE)  In the business world some companies use the term "Happy Holidays" to extend a welcoming hand to those shoppers who may be of a different religious doctrine.  It isn't some sort of organized way to "De-Christianize" shopping for presents at Christmas.  It should be noted that the original idea behind the nativity was to encourage worship of Christ rather than upon secular materialism and gift giving.

Photo Credit - https://www.facebook.com/WFLAtheism

That being said, do I really care if the lady behind the counter says Happy Holidays?  Not really, no. The reason I don't care is honestly because she doesn't either.  She's here working her ass off at some minimum wage job in hopes that she can pay her bills.  Her boss told her to "greet the customer" and she did.  No one sits around plotting the overthrow of Christmas or Christianity by means of substituting Happy Holidays for Merry Christmas.



A few years ago I posted a photo of some holiday gifts that had been sent to me from friends and one of my friends on Facebook decided to come on to my photos and post "Merry CHRISTmas" on my photos.  Now my friend (well, she was my friend, I removed her after that) made it a point to come to my wall, and post that comment on my photos.  While I do see some of my Pagan friends sharing the whole "Christians stole my holidays" memes I see so much more ugliness from those professing to be Christians than I do of any other group.  I have friends who are Atheist, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and everything in between.  I think it is possible to coexist on this planet without the need to always be right.

If the world spent more time actually practicing the religions they claim to follow we would have less horrors in the world.



So no matter what you choose to celebrate, no matter what you call it remember that other people may celebrate the same month, the same day but not the same way.  Allowing someone else the same freedom that you have to worship and allowing people like me, the one's being called PC Liberals, Christmas Haters, and so on to look at someone who may not follow my path and say "Happy Holidays" isn't a war on Christmas.  It is understanding that everyone is equal and remembering that only one of those holidays is federally recognized.

Happy Sunday
Sosanna
)O(

So this is day two of me taking my vitamins again.  For a long time now, probably about six months, I've been not eating the best in world and neglecting my exercise and vitamin routine.

I started taking them again yesterday and earlier this week I had hubby pick up 6 pieces of fruit for me.  I used to eat that many pieces a day!  I have to say it's been a very long time since I took care of myself.  I was in a major mania since just before Thanksgiving.  I always get a little whackadoodle around the holidays but this time it was really bad.

Hubby and I headed out on Thanksgiving and we had to turn around and come home due to panic attacks.  We decided it was best if I stayed away from my family.  I have a huge amount of guilt associated with it.  But still it's probably for the best.

I got word yesterday that hubby will be working on Christmas day and my silly brain decided that I should go over to my Grandma's house.  I know inside that's not the right decision. No matter what happens my brain will turn it around to a negative.  If my sister speaks, I'll say she's putting on a front.  If she ignores me I'll be hurt she didn't try.  If she doesn't show, I'll judge it.  There's really no reason to do all that stuff.  I keep repeating the same behavior over and over.

So I've decided that this year, I'm not going to go.  I'm going to stay home with my animals and just veg.  Maybe I'll work on the shop, or practice my embroidery.  I'm not going to go over there and feed that crazy monster any more.

Instead, I'm going to "try" (I know Yoda I know... Try NOT ... DO)  to keep eating my fruits and getting my vitamins in me.  Maybe the reason I'm on a sparkle now is because my diet is fubared.  I need to keep my fruits coming in and stop eating so many carbs.  Yeah that's the ticket.

Since my mother left I've gone from a size 10/12 back to a 12/14.  I know not a HUGE difference but a big deal to me.  Hubby confessed that he preferred a little meat on my bones so at least I know he's not completely grossed out by me.

(put the bat down)

So today I've had my breakfast and I'm on my third glass of water before 9:30 am.  That's a good thing.  I'm looking forward to the new year.  Good things to come.

No one can take away from you what you do not give them.   Do not give them the power to hurt you.  Embrace the Sparkle.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna

Long time no sparkle eh?

No not really. I've been having a pretty active set of days since Thanksgiving. I've found a pattern to some of my manias. Many of the occur between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. As with many others the holidays are not easy times for me. Much of my time is spent speeding around the house.

I spend this time working. Working and more working. If I actually took time off during these two month's I'd probably go completely whack-a-doodle. I remember as a kid being at home the week before Christmas. My Stepfather played music in a country band. Most of the time we were left home with me babysitting my sisters. My mother would go to the bar with him and tell us to "be good" and you know how that goes. On one of these baby sitting trips I ended up walking with my two little sisters to the mall, my youngest at the time was about 7. She ended up breaking her arm as we ran down the rail road tracks to the Mall. Not the best example, but then I was only 11 or 12 years old.

However, that's not really the point of this story, Christmas, yes that's the point. Today I don't have a Christmas tree in my house. Because year after year after year my step father could get drunk and tear it down.

I remember being awoke by his screaming and yelling or him dragging me out of bed and standing me in front of the tree calling me "whore" or "slut". He was an awful awful man. He was physically, emotionally and sexually abusive to me from age 5 until I ran away from home at 15. It didn't matter the month, if it was Friday or Saturday and his drunk ass was at home, we got bitched at. Years ago my Christmas tree fell over in my house and I nearly had a nervous breakdown. From that day forward no more trees.

We drive to my grandmother's for Christmas dinner, yelling and cussing in the car the entire way was my horrible step father. As we pulled up in the drive way we were warned to keep our mouths shut or we'd "GET IT". Then out of the car he'd pop out smiling, my mother by his side acting as if nothing had happened. The exact same scene played at Thanksgiving, minus the Christmas tree battle.

This year was the first year that hubby had to work so I was at grandma's with my Mother alone, on both days. I did have an Aunt there that helped keep me sane, however on New Year's Day, it was just me. Just me there with my mom, who by all accounts is a complete nut job that at times I think cannot even remember who I am. She grunted at me and when I tried to speak to her, jumped at me a bit much like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I stayed a grand total of 20 minutes before I was out the door. Just couldn't take it. I battled the entire drive home to avoid all the fast food joints and junk food I could just to make it home to hide. At least I didn't binge, that's all I kept saying.

Today it seems a lifetime ago even though it was only a few days. I share my mother with 3 other siblings however I was the only one there that day. The only one that speaks to me had to work so I had to face those demons alone and failed miserably. My mind has been racing, I've barely slept and been going going going since then.

I know it's going to be slowing down soon. I have to embrace it, stop fighting it. Become one with the Sparkle. Understand that the sparkle is there to protect me. It keeps me from those that would hurt me and helps me know that I can do anything. (with in reason) I embrace the sparkle but keep my feet on the ground. I'm very proud of myself for keeping it together. I've even thought up several new crafts I want to work on for the Etsy Shop and come up with three or four great ideas for work.

This is when they come to me. I get so creative during this time. My energies flow and the ideas just come and come. Sometimes I wish I could stay here forever. But I know it makes those around me a bit crazy to deal with the go go go go .....

I'm hoping for some slow down soon.. maybe before my birthday... yea... maybe ...



Embrace the Sparkle
Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season.


























No matter how you celebrate it. Enjoy it.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(

Whether you cover your tree in tinsel or leave it off. Choose to use a star or an angel; each Christmas Tree is individual and represents it's owner. It has been called by many names, Yule Tree, Christmas Tree and Holiday Tree.

As a kid, we always had a tree.


That me, the tall one, without the big pink fuzzy feet.


I still love this time of year. I love the chill in the air and the crunch of the ground beneath my feet. I love the Yule time season and I do still love a Christmas tree.

The history of the Christmas tree has Pagan roots. (Pun intended) Druid priests in Great Britain used evergreen plants/trees in Yule ceremonies to celebrate the Winter Solstice. In the 1500's German's began using evergreen trees as a symbol of hope for the coming springs.

The modern Christmas tree is a descendant of this same tree used in Druid ceremonies. It's thought that the first was introduced to the US by German immigrants in the mid 1700's. Today there is a great deal of controversy over the words Holiday vs. Christmas tree. In order to be more inclusive of those around us, some in the US have started to use "Happy Holidays" and "Holiday Tree" to make those who have other holidays in December feel included.

For more information on Christmas around the world check out this cute site. I have even found a great page on the History Channel, that has lots of info on the history of Christmas.

Here's a great video on the life of a Christmas Tree.




Wishing you all a GAGA Holiday Season!




Namaste & Blessed Be!
Sosanna
)O(

Too many of us the term "Yule Log" refers to a tasty rolled cake usually made with chocolate and a rich cream inside that is amazingly tasty. I make a yule log out of pumpkin flavored cake with a cream cheese frosting that is completely to die for. I use this recipe but I add a bit of cinnamon to my frosting as well and I leave out the walnuts.



Another type of "Yule Log" is a piece of wood burned in a hearth or fireplace to celebrate the passing of the Yule season. Sometimes practiced on the Winter Solstice or during the twelve days of Christmas. A small piece of the log is removed from the fire and kept to burn in the following year's Yule celebration. At least that's how one story goes. It says the fire should be tended all night and kept burning, if it went out on the first attempt at lighting or through out the next twelve hours it would be a bad sign for the year to come. Most agree that the log should never be purchased however some say it should be taken from a neighbor's property as opposed to it's owner's yard.

Sometimes when a fireplace isn't available a yule log is set with candles and the candles take the place of the actual log burning.




Yule is the celebration of the Winter Solstice, as the Yule Log represents this time, we have Holly, Mistletoe, Rosemary, Oak, Spruce, Pine, Ivy, Fir and Poinsettia that also claim a spot in this holiday. The colors are red, green, white, silver and gold, or what I like to call Christmas colors. Most traditions celebrate with a meal and gift giving.

Some forms of Wicca celebrate this time as the rebirth of the Great Horned God, seen as the new sun, which interestingly enough can be seen in Christianity as well, where they celebrate the birth of the "son of God" in the form of the Baby Jesus in a manger.



There are many customs around the celebration of the Yule season as well as around the month of December. Just have a look at these:

Pancha Ganapati - This is a Hindu festival from the 21st - 25th that celebrates Lord Ganesha

Winter Solstice - a Celtic celebration from 21 to 23 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 to 23 in the Southern Hemisphere

Yalda - a Persian celebration on the 21st in celebration of the Winter Solstice

Saturnalia - Ancient Roman festival held in honor of Saturn originally celebrated on the 17th

Boxing Day - A gift giving day observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other areas

Flying Spaghetti Monster Day - Pastafarians have this day to reject all religious dogma, so yes, Virginia even Atheist's have "Pasta Claus"

For a list of some of the winter celebrations check here.

The point here is that as different as we try to be, the more similar we become. Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas? Really is it that big of a deal. Just live and let live.

For my family, we'll be having our first Yule log burning, as we just got a lovely wood stove. I'm not sure how I'll handle fishing out part to save for next year, but I will certainly do my best.

For those that don't have a fireplace, here's a video of a fire burning for your enjoyment.





I'll also be making the "other" Yule Log to take to Grandma's. So if you'd to see how to make one I found this video on YouTube.



For my fellow Pagans, I'd like to share this really nice Yule song I found on Youtube.




Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(