I am not a pagan of any formal variety; and partly because it can be hard to separate out the capital-P Pagans from little-p pagans (much like libertarians, I suppose), I do not feel comfortable applying either label variant to myself. But as my desires grow to commemorate and celebrate days that actually mean something in the natural world, I find a sense of communion with at least part of part of their formal celebrations. Thus I was entranced by the video below, which came to my attention courtesy of my massage therapist.
(Direct link for those who prefer to watch it at YouTube)
And now I have my own musical program for the rest of the evening, as I enjoy the candlelight and do some knitting: piano pieces from Edvard Grieg. I hope you enjoy your celebrations, whatever form they may take—and whenever (and whyever) you choose them!
Joyous Yule to One and All
"Pagan"
Origin of the word, “pagan” (from Dictionary.com):
1325–75; ME < ML, LL pāgānus worshiper of false gods, orig. civilian (i.e., not a soldier of Christ), L: peasant, n. use of pāgānus rural, civilian, deriv. of pāgus village, rural district (akin to pangere to fix, make fast); see -an1
The American Heritage Dictionary also gives, as one definition:
L: peasant, n. use of pāgānus rural, civilian, deriv. of pāgus village, rural district (akin to pangere to fix, make fast); see -an1
So the word “pagan” translates to “country[fied], or rural dweller”, and it is this etymology which has always inspired me to enjoy and use the word “pagan.” I believe it was originally applied in a derogatory sense by Christians to denote any non-believer. It was Christians who defined Paganism, just as they took many 'pagan' symbols and celebrations and applied them to Christian importance in order to make them more acceptable to believers and non-believers alike.
You don't need the
You don't need the label.
With apologies to the movie purists out there, "Pagan is as pagan does."
From How to be Pagan for a day
"Go tell three really dirty jokes. Share a piece of fruit with someone you can't stand. Cuddle with someone you care deeply about. Leave the place a little nicer than when you found it. And greet the sun when it wakes up.
"No, that isn't all that there is to be a Pagan, it's just a taste of how to be a better human."
Recognizing the natural cycles are important because it helps us keep in touch with the world where we live. That's it.
Happy solstice.
Thank you both so much
Your etymology lesson was much more interesting—and helpful—than the one I found, Pat. And, NeoWayland, several of the things you mentioned are in my regular repertoire ... although I’m sad to admit I’ve fallen off with the dirty jokes. Maybe when the snolfs appreciate them that’ll change.
Yule + 10 =
Happy New Year, Sunni!!!
Thanks!
And the same to you, Mr. Bill!
mmmmmm. Grieg.
mmmmmm. Grieg. :P
A favorite. Up there with Mahler, and Chopin and Rimsky-Korsakov and Keith Emerson. :D
Good company.
Of those you’ve listed, I’m least familiar with Mahler. Will see what I can do about that.
I saw several days ago that you’d returned to your blog—and a welcome sight it was.
Mahler tends to polarize
Mahler tends to polarize music lovers; a real 'love-or-hate' guy. I recommend his Symphony No. 1('Titan'), as one of the most grand and beautiful pieces of music ever written, and the song cycle 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen', or 'Songs Of the Wayfarer' as almost a primer on expressing range-of-emotion in music. You may also like his atypical Piano Quartet in A minor. Written when he was 15, it's quite lovely and probably his most pleasant piece.
Glad you've been poking around the bloggie. I'm -- once again -- backing away from forums, and trying to focus my attention on an outlet where I call the shots. I'm also working on a novel and posting chapters there. I've got some big plans: several multi-part critical essays on speculative fiction, including the 'literary biography' of Heinlein I've been tinkering with for the better part of ten years, and a pretty extensive series on the transformation of the SF genre from optimistic, forward thinking (and --at heart --libertarian) literature into post-modernist cynicism. I'll keep you posted. :)
Guffaw
Loved the way you slid Keith Emmerson along with the other 3. Reminds me of the summer in the mid '70's when my German cousin came to visit. During a break in camping out (it was raining the entire week), my dad took us to a department store. The cousin was full of himself in the way most 17 year old teens are and sure that he was way more cultured than I, so when he saw Pictures at an Exhibition (8 track, natch) he bought it "to improve my taste in music." Of course, he didn't pay attention to the performer, so I ended up with my first Emerson, Lake and Palmer tape instead of the classical version he thought he was getting me.
I'm also an oddball in the Mahler category. I can take him or leave him. Depends on my mood.