Wyrd Words: Putting the “Holy” Back in “Holiday”

Last updated on: October 30, 2014 at 2:53 pm by Alyxander Folmer

Wyrd Words: Putting the “Holy” Back in “Holiday” 2014-10-30T14:53:14+00:00 Alyxander Folmer

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Greetings, and welcome back to Wyrd Words. Keeping the Thor in Thursdays, every other week here on Agora!

So we’ve come to the changing of the seasons! Autumn is here, bringing its chilly 90 degree weather, flowering gardens, and bright green trees. Remember, I live in Arizona. We have 2 seasons: “Magic-Sky-Water-Season” and “WHY-DID-I-CHOOSE-TO-LIVE-IN-AN-INCINERATOR?!?!-Season.” We’re Currently enjoying “Magic-Sky-Water-Season,” and with it come the many joys of October! All the cool decorations are on sale, Pagans suddenly get to be on TV, and there’s pumpkin-spice EVERYTHING.

(You only wish we were kidding)

It’s also the time of year when many of us observe some of our most sacred rites. The Wiccans are gearing up for Samhain tomorrow, the Heathens are out buying mead for Winter Nights, and I’m getting ready to go deal with hordes of tiny sugar junkies for 8 hours… The unfortunate truth is that many of us are forced to work through our Holy days. This is often not because our bosses are evil bigots who refuse to let us observe our religious traditions, but because our desire to eat real food some time this week keeps us bound to our desks.

I believe Winter Nights is more than just a ritual observance or a day of remembrance. It’s a time that should be made sacred and set apart from the mundane affairs of our everyday lives. This, to me, is part of my covenant with the Vættir. So when our schedules don’t allow us to participate in holiday functions, how can we still feel as if we are doing our part?

Many of us grew up in nominally Christian households, and as such we celebrated Christmas every year. I remember the sense of ecstatic joy and excitement the night before, and throughout the holiday everything always seemed a bit brighter simply because the day was “special”. The world was always prettier on Thanksgiving. The world was always more fun on someone’s birthday. The offerings I make during this turning of the seasons consist of more than the ritual sacrifices offered at the Blót; the very act of setting this time apart to honor the Gods, the ancestors, and the spirits of the land is an offering in and of itself. The simple act of making the day a special occasion always seems to make the world a slightly better place for the day, even if we still have to fulfill our regular (mundane) obligations.

For those of us who don’t have the option of taking a day off to celebrate our holy days, we can still keep the spirit of the day alive. Take extra time to enjoy the little things. I often have to work outdoors, so I like to pause every so often and enjoy the breeze. I won’t be able to eat dinner with the family, but I can still prepare a special meal to enjoy at work. I also try to go the extra mile, putting forth an effort to try and do just that much better than any other day. I refuse to let the fact that I’m at work stop me from making the day unique and special. I cannot change my surroundings, so instead I choose to change my perception of them, and set myself apart. That is my offering on this day of sacrifice.

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