Ancient pagan traditions have influenced many modern holidays, and Thanksgiving is no exception. While Thanksgiving is commonly associated with the Pilgrims in America, the roots of the holiday can be traced back to ancient pagan harvest festivals. These festivals were celebrated to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to appease the gods. One ancient pagan tradition that influenced Thanksgiving is the festival of Saturnalia in ancient Rome. Saturnalia was a week-long celebration in honor of the god Saturn, which included feasting, gift-giving, and general merriment. This tradition of feasting and giving thanks can be seen in the modern Thanksgiving celebration, where families come together to enjoy a bountiful meal and express gratitude for their blessings.
Though it is true that initially the Plymouth settlers held rather good relations with the Wampanoag tribe—in fact, they had an official alliance against the French and other rivals—, this friendship eventually eroded. Little by little, the colonists of Plymouth, though indebted to the Wampanoag, took over their land, straining the locals’ way of life. If that was not enough, disease, spread by the newcomers, decimated the native population.
Most schools teach that Thanksgiving was born when some English religious dissenters, the pilgrims, were struggling to settle in Plymouth and were warmly received by friendly, local Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe, who taught them how to survive in the New World. Known by the English as King Philip, the new leader ordered raids against the colonies after many of his men were executed for murdering a Punkapoag interpreter.
This tradition of feasting and giving thanks can be seen in the modern Thanksgiving celebration, where families come together to enjoy a bountiful meal and express gratitude for their blessings. Another ancient pagan tradition that influenced Thanksgiving is the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Here’s The True And Bloody Story Behind The Origins Of Thanksgiving
We all know that Thanksgiving is an American holiday meant to celebrate and be grateful for our blessings and the friendship of others. What many ignore, however, is that behind this seemingly joyous occasion lies a dark story full of conflict, blood, and genocide.
The origins of Thanksgiving, like with most other traditional festivities, are rooted in old pagan rites. The holiday has its earliest source in ancient customs found throughout the globe that allocated a day of giving thanks for a successful harvest and the fortunes or blessings of the previous year. More specifically, however, it is often said that the current American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to the establishment of the Plymouth Colony in what today is Massachusetts, in 1620.
It was believed that during this time, the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead were blurred, and spirits could cross over into the mortal realm. To protect themselves from these spirits, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to disguise themselves. This tradition of lighting fires can be seen in the modern Thanksgiving tradition of lighting a fireplace or a bonfire. Additionally, the tradition of wearing costumes and masks can be seen in the modern Halloween celebration, which is closely tied to Thanksgiving. Furthermore, the ancient pagan tradition of giving thanks to gods for a successful harvest can also be seen in the modern Thanksgiving celebration. In ancient times, people would offer sacrifices or perform rituals to show their gratitude. While this aspect of the tradition has become less prominent in modern times, the act of giving thanks and expressing gratitude is still a central part of the Thanksgiving celebration. In conclusion, ancient pagan traditions have had a significant influence on the modern Thanksgiving celebration. The traditions of feasting, gift-giving, lighting fires, wearing costumes, and giving thanks can all be traced back to ancient pagan harvest festivals. While Thanksgiving may have evolved over time and taken on new meanings, it still carries echoes of its ancient pagan origins..
Reviews for "The Harvest Moon and Ancient Pagan Celebrations: Insights into Thanksgiving"
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - While I appreciate history and learning about different cultures, I found "Ancient pagan traditions in thanksgiving" to be a bit too far-fetched. The author made several connections between Thanksgiving and ancient pagan rituals that seemed like a stretch. I was expecting more well-researched and evidence-based information, but instead, it felt like a conspiracy theory. I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
- Mark - 1/5 stars - I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up "Ancient pagan traditions in thanksgiving," but it definitely wasn't this. The author presented a series of outlandish claims and conspiracy theories without any credible evidence or sources to back them up. It felt like reading a work of fiction rather than a well-researched historical book. I strongly discourage anyone from wasting their time and money on this book.
- Emily - 2/5 stars - I found "Ancient pagan traditions in thanksgiving" to be incredibly speculative and lacking in sound reasoning. The author connected Thanksgiving to ancient pagan rituals without providing any concrete evidence or historical references. It felt more like a wild speculation than a serious study. I was hoping to learn something new and interesting about the holiday, but instead, I ended up feeling confused and disengaged. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking accurate historical information.