File 0009-0010: A Very Pagan Christmas
12/18/2020
Pt 1: December 18th 2020 / Pt 2: December 24th 2020
In this two part episode our hosts, Cayla, Nathan and Halli take a look a three cases of intrigue:
- The Winter Solstice: Long before Christmas was a thing, cultures all around the world celebrated the Winter Solstice (or something similar). Halli tells us about some of those practices
- Mari Lwyd: December, the days are short, the weather cold. Loved ones are on our thoughts and Christmas is around the corner. It's the perfect time to grab your bros, dig up a horse skull tie some ribbons to it and challenge your neighbors to rap battles for booze and food
- Gryla the Christmas Witch: Iceland's version on Santa Clause consists of a witch, her thirteen children and her giant cat who eats children who aren't wearing new clothes!
Sources
Sources below are a sample, for the full list visit the HEX file on the topic
- https://www.history.com/news/8-winter-solstice-celebrations-around-the-world
- https://www.britannica.com/list/7-winter-solstice-celebrations-from-around-the-world
- https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/celebrating-the-seasons/winter-solstice
- https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/celebrating-the-seasons/celebrating-winter-solstice
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/winter-solstice-2014_n_6336518?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067
Gryla the Christmas Witch
To be released