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HeathenRefuge › history Memes & GIFs

A place to express your pagan beliefs, other non mainstream traditions or just support us. You can also safely express your dismay at the crimes & behavior of scientists or Christians. Or other religions, as long as it's honest criticism.
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It's always darkest before the dawn.

It's always darkest before the dawn. | It's an old Pagan custom to bring a living tree indoors in the middle of the dark months of the year & decorating it with candles & trinkets. Bringing evergreen vegetation in the form of trees, boughs & branches from the outside to the inside is a magic ritual, a piece of sympathetic magic, meant to encourage the return of spring & the growing season. The Christmas tree is traditionally an evergreen tree, usually a spruce or fir, which is cut down from the forest. The tree itself symbolizes immortality & everlasting life, & the lights draped on it are reminder that during the darkest time of the year, lighter days are just around the corner. | image tagged in christmas tree 15ft,holidays,solstice,heathen,plant,history | made w/ Imgflip meme maker
by AlaskaNativeManitou
135 views, 1 upvote

Holy Heathens, Batman!

Holy Heathens, Batman! | Holly is 1 of the trees most commonly associated with Christmas. Like other evergreens, holly is symbolic of eternal life & vitality; its red berries stand for those, as well as blood. The custom of bringing holly boughs into the home in the best of winter has its origins in the pre-Christian idea that its prickly leaves shelter the fairy folk, who were delighted to come inside at such a cold time of the year. The Romans also brought holly into the house during the time of the Saturnalia, in mid-December. Holly trees planted close to the home guarded the house & its occupants from evil influences; the spiny leaves of the "male" tree are a symbol of protection. Holly with smoother leaves has more female attributes. The name of the tree comes from the Goddess Holle, who was the mother of all unborn children & was responsible for naming them. When Christians call something "holy," they are unknowingly honoring this Goddess. The "Holly King" is an image of a giant constructed from holly, carrying a holly club in his hand. The seasonal counterpart to the Oak King, the Holly King is the guardian of the Winter Solstice. | image tagged in christmas decor 2,moonlight fairies,history,pagan | made w/ Imgflip meme maker
by AlaskaNativeManitou
139 views, 1 upvote

In modern Norway some people give corn to magpies.

In modern Norway some people give corn to magpies. | Just as Saturnalia was a major Solstice celebration for southern Europe, so was Yuletide in the north. The word Yule was the name of the time period now divided into December & January. It involved bringing into your home: ivy, holly, mistletoe & a tree to be decorated in honor of Odin. Odin gained knowledge & transcended death after being hung from a tree - instead of a cross. A Yule log was burned in honor of Thor. You can't cut a tree down for this; you have to find a fallen log that will burn for days. Over the Yule log's fire is cooked a boar (in honor of Freyr) for the community to feast upon. | image tagged in merry yule,pagan,heathen,history,tradition,happy holidays | made w/ Imgflip meme maker
by AlaskaNativeManitou
172 views

One of many holidays that informed Christmas.

One of many holidays that informed Christmas. | Druids celebrated Alban Arthuan on December 21st, the winter solstice. It represents the turning of the year; the death & rebirth of the sun. | image tagged in druid guy,tradition,pagans,britain,history | made w/ Imgflip meme maker
by AlaskaNativeManitou
280 views, 1 upvote

European Santa figures may wear different colors.

European Santa figures may wear different colors. | Why would elves obey a human? The character now known as Santa Claus mythically was king of the northern elves. He was skinny, a bit severe & wore green or brown. Over time people wanted a more human, jolly figure. His appearance was ultimately fixed into what we recognize now by an artist named Thomas Nast in a black & white drawing. Finally, the Coca-Cola company bombarded people with ad images of Santa wearing their product's colors: red with white trim. | image tagged in santa,pagan,mythology,history,advertising | made w/ Imgflip meme maker
by AlaskaNativeManitou
264 views, 2 upvotes

European Santas sometimes dress like bishops.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
454 views, 2 upvotes

"Halloween" is a contraction of All Hallows Eve.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
591 views, 2 upvotes

Turnips must be easier to carry than pumpkins.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
291 views, 1 upvote

Modern day fear mongering.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
195 views, 1 upvote

The 3 commandments: "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds."

by AlaskaNativeManitou
253 views, 1 upvote

Crucifix or cross: still represents life & death.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
210 views, 2 upvotes

Nobody called Judaism a race before 1910.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
226 views

She's not even a feminist, she's just telling it like it is.

by AlaskaNativeManitou
206 views, 2 upvotes

Never again!

by AlaskaNativeManitou
285 views, 1 upvote
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