I was just wondering how you all fit in celebrating festivals such as Ostra and Yula with the holidays that we have in the UK? For example I would like to celebrate them on the Pagan Exquinoxs, but obviously they are not when the rest of our families and friends celebrate the Christian holidays.

On Wednesday my family and I ate eggs and appreciated nature for the amazing things that it is. However I wanted to celebrate this with other family and friends, but felt that they wouldn't quite get why I am celebrating it 3 weeks before the event (if you know what I mean). How can I celebrate with people I care about without having to justify what I am celebrating and them looking at me as if I have turned into a treehugging (no offence intended treehugger! ) hippy (sorry about the sterotype )? I know that is a generalisation, but this is how I think most iof my friends and family view Pagans and I hate having to justify my beliefs to others that I know will protest. I hate conflict of any kind.

MissCheeva

It seems to me you are expecting to be able to do the impossible. Your wider family has a lifelong tradition and an expectation that Easter is the time to celebrate. If you want to celebrate with them, you have to do it when they're doing it. Why not? You can't expect them to go along with you when you're in the minority. This doesn't mean you have to stop doing it your way - just that if you do it your way, you have to accept that it will be a small personal festival, rather than a huge family one.

Me, I observe the passing of midwinter, but Christmas is family time. Easter is no longer important since the children grew up and left home and no longer expect Easter eggs. Other festivals are more important from a family point of view, such as my sister organising a family get-together with our 86 year old mother which involves her coming over from Holland and hiring a holiday home, and apparently even our American sister is coming over - this will be a real festival in the true meaning of the word, though the date is not a date determined by any calendar or astronomical event.

Julai's hit it on the nail I think. There's nothing wrong in doing a small personal celebration on the actual date, and doing a family thing on the more generally accepted dates. It's what most Pagans do.

How can I celebrate with people I care about without having to justify what I am celebrating and them looking at me as if I have turned into a treehugging (no offence intended treehugger! ) hippy (sorry about the sterotype )? I know that is a generalisation, but this is how I think most iof my friends and family view Pagans and I hate having to justify my beliefs to others that I know will protest. I hate conflict of any kind.

NO offence taken Misscheeva!!! I basically do a small private celebration with my kids, such as painting eggs etc or at Yule, lighting candles and collecting holly and ivy etc etc.
Then. enjoy taking part in teh otehr family feasts such as xtian Esater etc. I dont have a problem with this as I feel whats important to them is important to me but as yet, dont feel they would entirely understand my beliefs. After all, I'm only beginning to understand them myself! As i found when my new bf started asking me lots of questions about it!!! Oh dear................

In time, you will find your way of doing things, and start your own family traditions, thats how I look at it.

tree....off to hug more greenery!

I just do what I like in a very quiet way. Often I do very simple things like walking in the countryside and that's good enough- just getting in touch with the big cosmos is fine by me. (it makes me feel really happy - almost childlike in fact)

I have started celebrating some of the festivals in my own thoughts, relaxation, meditation etc.

Me and my 12 nearly 13 year old son were doing history the other day (civil war and the puritans no less) and we got into a discussion about pagan celebrations ('cos good old Olly Cromwell didn't like pagan influences within the protestant faith - he even banned christmas don't you know!) That was nice - my sons very sympathetic towards my path.

fizzy

Wow I never knew Cromwell banned Christmas - Thats my bit of learning for today.

Thank you for all your replies. You are all right and I guess I knew I couldn't change what already is. I will do as you suggest Julai and will have a small family celebration on the actual day and then celebrate with my wider circle of family and friends on the Christian days.

The reassurance is what I needed and you gave it. Thank you.
MissCheeva

f you wanted to organise things yourself, you could invite people to something at your house to celebrate the equinoxs/solstices. You don't need to mention paganism at all, just say you want to have a party to celebrate the start of spring and the fact that the days are getting longer. Most people will use any excuse for a party!
Chris x

Kristofski - That is very much how I get many of my family and friends involved. They have no idea the the invite and posh meal has any significance beyond... it's nice to get togeatehr with friends and eat good food...

I do my quiet reverance to my Gods in my own space and time, and at the very least cook somethign topical and nice for me and my Gentleman. Then if there is a Christian holiday near by use that as free time off work to visit family and friends who also have that time off. I will even go to services with them, or eat thier celibratory foods - I feel it only fair to help them celibrate thier beliefs if that is what they need / expect / religion demands. Sitting in respectful silence rarely raises questions.

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

Another helping of Easter bunny stew anybody?

Like others I'll tend to celebrate 'significant' dates in a variety of ways.

1) Something quite personal and reflective.

2) A simple ritual / celebration with like minded friends.

3) Something more family orientated but not necc 'in your face' type paganism, so a woodland walk, egg hunt.

Q

I try to celebrate as I'm able, and get to share xian holidays with my extended xian family. However to celebrate Easter (after having enjoyed a frozen Oester) I bite the heads off my candy "Peeps" and chocolate Bunny. Buwahahaha.

you know, I haven't celebrated eostre/ostara/easter this year, just didn't feel the 'draw' to do it.

but it snowed! yay! love snow. get so little of it here. not enough to settle but really, really big flakes.

Well there is time yet Fizzy Eostremonath does not start until the 1st Crescent of the New-Moon of said month

Wassail!


wolvie