#so they don't celebrated christmas. they celebrate the winter solstice/yule

[enbysiriusblack]

Sirius was in the middle of taping a dung bomb underneath a desk in Flitwick's empty classroom when Peter spoke.

"You going home for the holidays?"

Sirius easily slid out from under the desk, folding his arms on the top as he glanced over to Peter, "Nah. I'll probably go to James' instead. See how long it takes them to come drag me back themselves instead of sending that wretched Kreature."

Peter nodded, "I might come join you, Mum's place is always packed during winter."

Sirius grinned, "Brilliant", he climbed over the table and jumped off it, "We can spend Yule together."

Peter smiled back, "Yeah. The Potter's made you your own guest room right?"

"Oh, I forgot you haven't seen it! It's much cooler than my room at Grimmauld Place."

"Oh, no naked women?"

Sirius laughed, "Absolutely not. Maybe I want my mother to have a fit, but definitely not Mia. But Monty got me these proper band posters and there's this huge Queen one over my bed, and last summer when I flooed to the Potter's, me and James stole this traffic cone so that's in there. Oh, and Mia met me in Camden as well and she got me all these muggle clothes and Marlene built me a cupboard to put it all in."

"It sounds nice, can't wait to see it."

Sirius grabbed Peter's hand to drag him to the next classroom, "Merlin, neither can I. And you can borrow any of it, of course. I actually got a guitar for when you come over."

"You got a guitar? What kind?"

Sirius shrugged, "Fender Strat, I think. You'll play it right? I love hearing you play."

Peter beamed, "Course, I will."

Sirius tousled Peter's hair before glancing at his bag of dung bombs, "Only got a few left", he sighed.

Peter held his hand out, "Pass them here, I was thinking if we put them on the doors instead and leave them open then the smell would reach to a further distance."

Sirius instantly perked up, grabbing Peter's face and quickly giving him a kiss before turning to the windows, "Make sure all the windows are shut as well!"

Peter, cheeks still bright red, walked over to shut the remaining open windows.

[looselipssinkships-x]

I did all of my holiday baking last night

I woke up, ate breakfast, and baked for nine and a half hours straight

I made 212 cookies

I feel like i blacked out and the spirit of a manic 85yo took over

[counter-culture-christian]

Why Christmas is not related to Christ Jesus nor Christianity

A search on the internet will tell you that Christmas is a Christian holiday (I don't think I read that in the Bible) celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ. Where in the Bible was the birth date of Jesus Christ given? It doesn't even give the date of the 25th of December. Christmas means "mass on Christ's day" how did it come to be that that was Christ's day? I know that He says He's Lord of the sabbath and that's God's day is the sabbath but Christmas? No. Christmas is the English term. "The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jōl or the Anglo-Saxon geōl, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice." Yule which is "the pre-Christian festival originating in Scandinavia which was later subsumed, along with other pagan celebrations, into the Christian holiday of Christmas." There are pagan roots, celebrations in it, how does it glorify Jesus? God? People might say, oh but they sing Christmas carols and there's the nativity. Please, it doesn't matter if that is done on that day when there are parts of Christmas which are contributed from celebrations offered to idols or possible pagan gods. "Yule celebrations began as a Norse festival called jol, although assessments of the purpose and traditions vary. Like most winter solstice festivals, themes of light, fire, and feasting are common threads. Some historians think that sacrifices were an important part of the observance, either to the gods and other supernatural beings (such as elves) or to the dead or both." "Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role." If it's really about Jesus Christ, why is there an image of a mythical man called Santa Claus? What does he have to do with Jesus Christ? As the quote above said, Christians and non-Christians celebrate it. Why would non-Christians, people who don't believe in, nor follow or have accepted Christ as their personal saviour, celebrate the day? How strange that is, a day allegedly dedicated to Christ is celebrated by a non believer who can celebrate that day yet still not want to seek or receive Christ Jesus. "The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. " Gosh, the Roman Empire and it's influence in Christianity is. . .I'm speechless. Many people are being led astray by their "traditions", "doctrines" etc. So much falseness. I'm not even surprised. Saturnalia: "The influence of the Saturnalia upon the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year has been direct. The fact that Christmas was celebrated on the birthday of the unconquered sun (dies solis invicti nati) gave the season a solar background, connected with the kalends of January (January 1, the Roman New Year) when houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and presents were given to children and the poor." "Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas, such as wreaths, candles, feasting and gift-giving." "The pagan celebration of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time, began as a single day, but by the late Republic (133-31 B.C.) it had expanded to a weeklong festival beginning December 17. (On the Julian calendar, which the Romans used at the time, the winter solstice fell on December 25.)"

[blackcrowing]

Hello! As an Irish reconstructionist, do you maybe know any specific traditions in celebrating Mean Geimhreadh (Alban Arthan?? Are these the same things??)

Ok, so for me personally this is a REALLY complicated question. I focus my reconstructionism on ~approximately~ Iron Age traditions (I feel this is an 'authentically' 'Celtic Irish' period being an age when there is abundant evidence of the Pre-Christian religion we know of as 'pagan Irish' being practiced and not yet being blended with Christian practices and beliefs).

So as such I don't do anything for Meán Geimhridh. That is not necessarily to say that the peoples of the Iron Age didn't recognize the long hours of darkness on this day, because I am certain they did, but that as far as the evidence that is available to us it was not something that held great religious importance. While the Stone Age religion being practiced seemed to place great importance on the solstices (marking them very clearly in the monolithic monuments and passage tombs they built) and later the dates held importance to the blended cultures of Irish/Scandinavian (yule) and Irish/Christian (Christmas), the period of time I focus on is oddly silent about these solar phenomenon. Apparently, only being noted by the classical writers as Alban Arthan.

However, even here there is a great level of debate. I subscribe to the theory that this particular description of religious activity was actually a case of mistaken identity and was actually speaking of, not the 'Keltoí' peoples, but the Germanic tribes further north (who we KNOW would have recognized this time of year and KNOW had a special religious connection with mistletoe). Furthermore, even IF this historical account WAS speaking of what we think of as the 'celtic' cultures it was obviously addressing an act preformed on the continent, which we know held similar but separate traditions from the insular 'Celts'.

Which brings us back to looking at any evidence for Pre-Christian/Post-Stone Age traditions that mark this time, and we do see some (just not in so much in Ireland). In the UK we see a widespread tradition at this time of year involving the Wren and straw boys, but as far as my research can tell it was likely spread through the UK in its Christian guise and any pagan roots it has are likely Welsh is origin.

Lastly, there is the widespread idea of the Mistletoe King and the Oak King.... this, in my opinion, is a jumbled fabrication of the pagan renaissance of the 1800s, and so while it can be considered 'traditional' at this point, holds no more historical weight then the Wiccan 'wheel of the year.'

At the end of the day, I don't hold any religious significance to the event BUT if I were to try doing something I felt was historically accurate I would keep a fire stoked, keep my family and friends close, eat and drink and share stories and songs to keep us all entertained as we enjoyed each others company (so the basic blueprint for any winter festival in most of the world 😅)

[b4ts1e]

▀▄▀▄▀▄Traditions▄▀▄▀▄▀ (𝚐𝚗!𝙼𝙲)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍: 𝚀𝚒𝚞/𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚗 𝙻𝚒𝚗 𝚃𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙱𝚊𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚗 𝙾𝚙𝚊𝚕 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝙲 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 (𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙾𝙻:𝙽&𝙵)

𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝: The night before Halloween, the cul-de-sac trio decides to have a sleep over at MC's house- going trick or treating the next evening as a group. Based in Step 1

(𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗)

The cul-de-sac trio, all bundled up in their pajamas with a bunch of fluffy blankets (supplied by MC) together layed out on the floor with snacks as they huddled together, watching classic Halloween movies from Opal's laptop. (Imma draw this, at some point- I already have a refrence picked out.)

"I'm super excited to go trick or treating! My parents didn't really do Halloween, so this basically a first time for me!" Tamarack said excitedly shifting side to side- scooching just a bit closer to MC who resided in the middle of the trio, controlling the laptop while laid out on their stomach. "Really? Why didn't they?" Qiu asked, curiously- lifting himself up with his elbows slightly to get a better look at who he was talking to.

"I dunno, we just didn't. Not very common in German culture I guess, plus they were always busy." She said nonchalantly, not bothered much by it- too distracted by the movie playing on the screen. "Makes sense to be honest, cultures can be vastly different." MC spoke up, pausing the movie. "Oh? How do you know that?" Qiu asks, a smug smirk on his face but it was a genuine question.

"Well, living previously in the city- many different types of people lived there. Plus we used to move around alot for my mom's job- that said I had the oppertunity to meet a lot different people, or at least learn about them." MC explained a bit before Opal came into the room with a plate of decorated cookies- halloween themed of course. "So- how's the movie going kiddos? Need anything? Water, more blankets, anything?" She asked with a kind smile, putting the cookies down on MC's nearby desk.

"Hey momma? What was that guy from the bakery's name again? Him and his mother ran that place after moving from France to share his mom's recipes?" MC asked, shocking Opal a bit who just chuckled a bit but smiled anyways. "That was Monty sweetheart, why do you ask?" she replied gently, crossing her arms and leaning on the doorframe gently. "Tamarack is having her first genuine Halloween with us, and that turned into talk about different cultures." Autumn explained quickly, resulting in Opal to nod swiftly.

"Gotcha, well- Monty was from France. Just like how Tamarack's Omi and Opa were from Germany. Germans don't often celebrate Halloween because of one of their holidays: Martinstag. It's very similar to both Halloween and Christmas, but also- what me and MC celebrate: Yuletide. I don't know much about the specific details of the traditions or celebrations, but I do know they light lanterns, share treats, and have a communal bonfire." She explains a bit, teaching what she knows from her minimal experience. "Yuletide?" Tamarack asks, looking to MC with a questioning glance.

"Yeah, what's Yuletide?" Qiu asked with her, MC's eyes seemed to sparkle in delight at the mention of the holiday season. "Yuletide is the holiday season of what you both know as Christmas! Yule is the actual holiday. It's a whole two weeks of celebrations! We light bonfires, give gifts, do a simmer pot, cook together, decorate a yule tree, and a bunch more things! Christmas was derived from it actually!" they rambled on a bit, excited to be able to teach their friends about one of their own traditions.

"A WHOLE TWO WEEKS?!" Tamarack exclaimed, sparkles in her eyes- jaw dropped. "That's so lucky!" she said excitedly. "So do you get gifts everyday?" Qiu asked, making Opal chuckle a bit. "Well- we normally spend the first week and a half exchanging hand made gifts. The second week we spend quality time together but on the day of the winter solstice we exchange the rest of the presents we got each other." she explained with a happy sigh, recalling the memories.

"Do you think we could participate in each other's traditions this year? All together?" Qiu asked with sparkles in his eyes, Tamarack nods eagerly- grinning like a kid on Christmas. "Well I'd have to speak with both of your guardians first, but if they accept it- then I don't see why not!" Opal says happily, pulling out her phone. "I'll go give them a ring, you three get back to your movies and snacks!" she said before exiting the room, the three kids giddy and excited for the possibility of spending more than just Halloween together.

"I hope they say yes!" Tamarack said excited, hugging a stuffed animal tightly as she got back into her original position for watching the movie. "I hope so too! It'd be super fun to join our families for the holidays! Besides, even if they don't say yes I still intend to make and get you guys gifts for the holidays!" Qiu said with a grin. "Oh yeah? You sure you won't lose them?" MC teased him gently, earning a slight elbow to the arm- making them laugh a bit. "Either way- I had already planned to make you guys Yuletide gifts, but now I'm way more excited!" MC said hugging a pillow and snuggling it close.

"Aww MC!" Tamarack said before hugging them, "I'll be sure to make you some gifts as well!" she said happily. Qiu chuckled lightly, smiling softly "I will too, it's only fair. After all you do keep my papers from magically disappearing." he said with a smirk, leaning against MC lightly. "You mean, they keep your papers after you lose them?" Tamarack teased before getting a pillow thrown softly at her, both her and Qiu laughing as MC just laid their shaking their head and stiffling a laugh.

"You guys are the best, thank you for being my friends. Seriously." MC said with a soft smile, catching the other two off guard slightly. "Where did that come from?" Qiu asked with a chuckle, his hair dishevled and completely down. "I don't reallty know, just- thank you. Both of you." they said again. "MC!!!!!" Tamarack squealed before she practically tackled them in a hug, making Qiu get squished behind the two- but they all laughed despite that.

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 1,017

[foodandfolklore]

Dry your own Orange Wheels and Peels

For many people it's strange to think that Oranges are often seen in winter decorations and are traditionally eaten this time of year. I know my house always had tangerines around, and I still buy them to this day in December. People also got them in their stockings as a treat. I didn't know still did this until I had my first Christmas with my now partner and they made me a stocking with an orange and apple. Gotta say, that orange was good. Now, this is partly because citrus fruits are in season in the winter. But there's another aspect.

The winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, is in December. Also called yule. It marks the celebration of the returning of the Sun, and Oranges are packed with solar energy. An orange wheel, fresh or dried, is a perfect symbol of the Sun to decorate with. Many people will dry their oranges during this season to make storage and decorating easier.

A dehydrator makes things a lot easier, but not everyone has one. However, fret not, you can still dry your oranges in the oven. You just need to set your oven to as low as it will go. Start at 150F and see if it will accept. Most ovens the lowest it will go will be between 160F to 200F. Don't try higher than 200F, your Oranges will get too toasty.

Orange Peel

If you want to just preserve orange peel, first decide what you are going to be using it for. If you plan to use it in things like tea, spell jars, basically need big chunks, simply use a vegetable peeler to peel the zest from the pith. Then place the strips on some parchment lined baking sheets, and place in the oven for around 30 minutes until they start to curl.

However, if you are wanting to use the peel in ways where us would need to be smaller; like curry powders, cookie doughs, and other general cooking, I strongly recommend grating your zest before drying. You can grind or cut up the larger chunks after they have dried, but orange zest (and all citrus to be honest) becomes rather leather like once dry. So grinding with a simple mortar and pestle is near impossible. You will need a coffee grinder or some other blender.

Orange Wheel

Lay your orange on it's side, so it's bump bits are on the left and right. This way, when you slice into the orange, you get your desired wheel look.

Now Start slicing. You want them to be fairly thin. I'm talking like no thicker than half a centimeter or quarter of a inch. If you have a mandolin, that'll make things easier. But if you're like me and don't have one nor can you consistently cut straight to save your life, fear not this will still work. These wheels just need to be thin.

One you have your wheels, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment. You can dab off excess juice with a paper towel if you happen to have a leaky fruit. Place them in the oven and check on them after 3 hours. They may be done, or they may need more time. Be prepared to wait 6 or 7 hours drying orange wheels. Maybe have a home day planned.

If your wheels are getting brown but not dry, remove them from the oven and give them a moment to cool. Turn the tray around before placing back in the oven.

You can store these in a clean glass jar, and if done right can last a few years. This process will work with other types of Citrus too. Lemons, Limes, Grapefruits. You can make lovely decorations or dress up a gift in an eco friendly way.

[daphyswitchylibrary]

Blessed Yule!

Yule, Yuletide or the winter solstice, happens usually around the 21st to the 25th (it depends for each year!) The winter solstice is a celebration of the longest night and shortest day of the year: after that, days will get longer again! It's a great time to celebrate home, family, friends, and reflect on ourselves. It also celebrates the eternal cycle of light and dark, life and death.

Crystals that are good to have for Yule are Ametrine, Orange Calcite, Ruby, Turquoise, Garnet, Bloodstone, Snowflake Obsidian and Onyx

For food, you can think of fruit (like oranges!), dried fruit, nuts, or even drink cider!

Colors that go well for Yule are, of course, red, green, white, silver and gold!

What to do for Yule

Decorate a Christmas/Yule tree. It's also a great activity if you are still in the broom closet

Bake a Yule log (the cake!), gingerbread cookies, plum pudding, or other recipes you usually make for the holidays. For example, fruit pies are always a big thing in my house during Christmas, so I also bake some for Yule!

Since Yule is a great time for reflection, make sure you take some time for that. Sit down and think about what happened in your life this year, meditate on it, try to see what was good and what was bad, and how to fix/change the latter. Do shadow work. Be grateful, make bullet points of your year's highlights. Using divination tools, like making a tarot spread about yourself/your situation, is also a great way to do that. Sometimes, it's even easier because the tool might bring up points you would've never thought of.

Have fun with family and friends! Yule is about the love and warmth around you, that also goes for the people you love.

Take a cleansing bath or shower! It's time to let go of things that you don't need anymore: and cleansing yourself helps to move on, to get rid of energies that no longer serve you. It will make some space for new things to come!

Go take a walk outside! Go appreciate the cold and how calm winter is.

Watch the sunrise and sunset. Afterall, it is the shortest day of the year, and it's nice to really see it.

With all that being said, I wish a blessed Yule to all! Take care of yourselves and have fun :)

[copiousloverofcopia]

Here is a new fic commission just in time for Christmas with a few more to come!!!!

Starting things off with some Terzo and Alessandra from my fic Tied as One Eternally for the lovely @captaingrebelguf!!!

Merry Christmas my love and I hope you all enjoy!

Commissions are OPEN, please see pinned post for Carrd info!

That Night Under the Mistletoe

During the Annual Yule Ball, Cardinal Terzo Emeritus spends the night listless until he sees Alessandra, one of the new Sisters of Sin.

If you have not read the fic this is a sequel for, please start there from the link above. Also available HERE on AO3!

Read more below the cut!

It was a long time ago now. A time when the champagne bubbles danced within glasses and the joyous music hummed blissfully in the air. The winter solstice celebrations were nearing their end and it was the Ministry's annual Yule Ball. Each of the siblings and ghouls, merry and gluttonous, as Lucifer intended. All the while truly appreciating the abundance that his dark grace had bestowed upon them during the year. 

Cardinal Terzo sat at the front table of the Hall. Positioned alongside his most trusted ghoul, Omega, and trying desperately to drown out the sound of Secondo gloating. His brother, insistent on droning on and on that he soon would become Papa. Terzo did his best to ignore him, mindlessly tracing his fingers along the edge of his glass and letting out a sigh. Wondering to himself if he was to be Omega again or if he would spend the evening alone.

He found himself scanning the room. Unable to appreciate the bright lights and happy faces. The beautiful decorations and whimsical party before him. Feeling empty as the night carried on. Just as he resolved himself to an early turn in, he saw her. The mysterious and willful Alessandra. A newer Sister of Sin from the most recent group of novitiates. She was surrounded by the rest of the crowd, yet somehow seemed as if she were by herself. The rest of them, only a blur with her silhouette against the bright lights—calling to him.  

She was breathtaking in a short, golden liquid knit dress. Dripping in sparkle and cinched at her waist. Her long dark curls, bouncing with each step and every curve on display. Smiling brightly as she worked the room with ease. The Cardinal was instantly smitten.

“Something on your mind.” Omega asked, nudging Terzo out of his thoughts. Noticing that he was obviously distracted. 

“Just admiring the view.” he mused, Omega following his line of sight to the sister. Rolling his eyes and twitching his tail in response. Terzo was intrigued by her, adjusting himself in his seat as he was visibly happy to see her. 

“If you’re so interested”, the ghoul jabbed, taking note of the visible swelling in Terzo’s pants, “why don't you go talk to her?” 

“You know what? That sounds like a great idea.” Terzo smirked, rising from his chair and practically hopping over the table to go greet her. Primo watched, glancing over to Omega and shaking his head. Secondo, only now stopping his monologue as Terzo took off across the room. 

“Where’s he off to?” he asked, having been completely aloof. Primo placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. Giving him a look that implied they both knew where he was going and why. 

“He’s trying to find himself a good time...but I have a feeling it’s not going to go well.” Primo sighed, Secondo nodding and returning to his rambling. 

By the time he reached her, she was by the entryway doors. Ready to leave for the night and return to the solitude of her room. Just as Alé set foot on the threshold, Terzo brought himself between her and the exit. His abruptness was jarring, catching her off guard.

“Oh…I’m sorry Cardinal.” she responded, minding her manners. Knowing all too well that his intrusion in her space was anything accidental. Still, she would be expected to show respect with him as a member of the high clergy.

“No…no sorella. I apologize for startling you. You see I had noticed you from across the room and well I couldn’t help but come over to say hello.” he responded. The famous Emeritus charm oozing from every pore. His smile, mischievous like the Cheshire cat’s grin. Alessandra immediately recognized he was up to no good, but it didn’t help that he was also so incredibly handsome.  

She had been made well aware of him. The Cardinal’s reputation was one of legend within not only the Abbey but the whole of the Ministry. A man whose ability to charm someone out of their pants, was matched only by his proclivity to hop from one person to the next. Seemingly allergic to commitment, but somehow so convincing that he had been able to have his pick of anyone, siblings of sin and ghouls alike. 

Terzo, known for having a string of broken hearts in his wake. It was for that very reason Alessandra had been actively avoiding him. Unsure if her resolve would be enough to prevent her from suffering the same fate. Despite that, now they were face to face and there was nowhere to escape. His mismatched eyes, captivating as they stared deeply into hers. 

“Well now that you have, I’m sorry but I think I should go. I think I may have had a bit too much champagne.” she laughed nervously, hoping that her excuse would be enough for him to let it go. It was true, he was hard to resist even for someone as levelheaded and firm as her. Terzo smiled, closing the space between them. Coming closer and closer, forcing Alessandra to back up against the door frame. Trying her best to avoid the press of his body against her. 

“No need to be shy, sorella.” he said, glancing upward and noting the fortuitous placement of mistletoe. Alessandra looked up, her heart beating fast within her chest as she too caught sight of it. “Would you do your Cardinal the honor of a small kiss…we are under the mistletoe after all.” he reasoned.

His eyes had turned soft, unlike the lecherous gaze she had expected of him. What a clever disguise , Alé thought to herself. He was a notorious playboy, and she knew no matter how innocent and sweet those eyes looked now, succumbing to them meant she’d end up a notch on his belt and a story shared with the ghouls. But they were oh so enticing, Alé forced herself to divert her eyes, only worsening the situation when she found herself staring down at his pouty lips. Despite her better judgment, she began to cave. Closing her eyes before him. 

“Just this once.” she whispered, waiting for the press of his lips against hers. Terzo quickly grabbed hold of her hips and tried to kiss her. Unable to hold himself back from his passionate and lustful desires. His hands filled with the curves of Alessandra’s rear end just before a swift smack to the face. 

“You bastard!” she barked, eyes wide open and jaw clenched in anger. How dare he try to man handle me like that , she thought to herself. Steaming hot inside as Terzo’s arrogance once again had gotten the better of him.

“Aww come on sorella, don’t be like that.” he whined. Watching Alessandra’s face flush red. Doing everything in her power to restrain herself from slapping him again.  

“Get bent, you letch.” she snapped, shoving past him and heading down the main hall, towards the siblings’ wing. Terzo stood in the doorway. His hand held gently against the tender flesh of his cheek. The sting of Alé’s touch, still burning there.  

“Struck out?” laughed Omega as he approached. Relishing the humor of such a rare sight to see. 

“Seems that way, but you never know.” he winked as the two of them watched Alessandra disappear up the stairs. 

------------------Many years later…-------------------------------

The lights were tickling quietly on the Yule tree. Terzo, mesmerized by them as the memory of that night lingered on his thoughts. Though it had been many years, there were times when it felt like just yesterday—just the two of them beneath the mistletoe. Things have changed so much since then.

This year they had declined attending the Yule party. Choosing instead to enjoy the soft echoes of celebrations in the distance as their little family got nestled in for the night. It was hours ago when their oldest children, Mena and Dante had fallen asleep. Snuggled up against their father after a long day of wreaking havoc, as small children often do. Terzo and Alessandra’s newborn daughter, Luciana, too was slumbering away peacefully in her mother’s arms. 

Alessandra inhaled deeply. Enjoying the quiet moment shared between them, and the scent of pine that filled the air, when she noticed Terzo smiling beside her. Watching the lights on the tree. “What are you thinking about?” she asked him, resting her head on his shoulder while they listened to the cracking of the warm fire beside them in the Papal suite. 

“I was remembering that first Yule after you arrived.”

“Oh?” Alé laughed, remembering all too well how things had played out that night. “Yeah…that seems like a dream now, doesn't it?” she asked him. Both of them, watching little Luci wiggling around in her swaddle.  

“What we have now, is the dream.” he smirked, Alessandra perking up an eyebrow at him.

“You were something else then and you’re something else now.” she chuckled to herself, completely amused by his cheesy and yet still very romantic charm. Even after all this time. 

“Who knows what could have been had you only kissed me then, that night under the mistletoe.” 

“Hmm…” Alé hummed before kissing her husband. Both of them, careful not to wake the kids, “Guess we’ll never know.”

[dragon-in-the-woods]

Tips for regressors/dreamers with religious trauma, as the holiday season comes up. And tips for regressors/dreamers with seasonal depression.

(DNI: Pro/com shippers/anti antis, and/or if you sexualize regression in any capacity.)

SFW only, under the cut for space.

First and foremost, "christmas" is an entirely stolen holiday. Most of it is stolen from Yule, a Norse holiday, but other elements come from Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, and other winter holidays. So don't feel bad about not celebrating! Now, for tips:

-If the ideas about Santa Claus cause any anxiety, write a letter to Odin instead! Odin (Norse mythology) was the original Santa, before christians stole the holiday. He's very kind and fatherly, and he won't be offended, so don't worry about making any "mistakes" in your letter.

-In the same category, leave cookies and milk for Odin instead. They're a great offering for most other deities as well, for any pagan regressors.

-Make new associations with "christmas" items. Cinnamon, oranges, mistletoe, pine trees, etc are all associations with Yule. The items were to bring joy and abundance during the dark and cold winter months.

-Warm drinks! Hot cocoa, tea, coffee, warm milk- find something you like and put it in your sippy cup. For littles without gear, the coffee lids used at most coffee shops are a good mimic- just wash and save the cups and lid for later.

-Listen to different music. I hate christmas music so if a store I go into is playing it, I'll pop in my earbuds while I shop. In the car, I choose a different radio station or use my own music.

-If you're required to do any holiday activities you don't want to do, imagine your caregiver F/O being there with you, also wanting to leave but having to stay. Maybe they're cracking jokes to make you laugh, or making fun of someone you don't like at the event to make you laugh.

Tips for seasonal depression:

-My therapist recommended this one! Do an activity sitting by a window where the sunlight is coming in. The warmth will help any cold in your body, and you'll get the Vitamin D from the sun, all while being inside and out of the cold.

-Keep moving your body. Stretches, exercises in one spot, and other things like that to stay indoors in the warmth. If you feel up to it, go outside and walk or jog.

-Healthy foods! With depression it's easy to slack on this, but at least try to make an effort. Meats are best for health and for energy levels. Fruits and veggies are getting expensive as the go out of season, so don't be afraid to get canned stuff if you can't afford fresh. My favorite veggie snack: canned green beans, either cooked on the stove with butter and salt, or if you're short on time, drained then microwaved on a plate with just salt.

-Imagine your caregiver F/O cuddling you as you rest. Imagine what nice and encouraging things they'd say. They love you and want you to feel better.

[magicoldcottage]

The 12 days of Yule

Looking to add more meaning to the season?

I think it's time we started to look back at our traditions from the past, and brought real meaning to the festivities rather than the commercialised mess that Christmas has become. The season was never about how many presents you got, how much money you could spend. It was about spirituality and family.

Below I run through the 12 days of Yule which started this year on the 21st Dec. I write this on boxing day which is 6th day of Yule if you are trying to find the current day.

When is Yule?

I've seen some confusion on posts of the date, this is natural as the date varies. The celebrations commence the day before the winter solstice, the shortest  day of the year. Which does vary slightly from year to year. This year the shortest day is the 22nd, so Yule starts on the 21st.

What were the 12 days of the celebration.

On the first day of Yule, The day before that Winter Solstice. people honoured "The Mothers", the goddesses who watched over the family and the land. They offered them food and drink on Mother’s Night, and asked for their blessings for the coming year. If you don't follow the Mothers in any guise simply substitute for one you do as part of your practice. For more details on the mothers click here

On the second day of Yule, people celebrated the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. They lit candles, bonfires, and the Yule log to symbolize the return of the sun and the warmth of life. They also decorated evergreen trees with ornaments and gifts. To those of you who've had your tree up since october, yes decorating the tree was part of the festivities. As not everyone has the ability to burn a giant log so a candle lit to banish the dark is a great modern option.

On the third day of Yule, people honoured Odin, the god of wisdom, war, and magic. They left offerings of food and drink for him and his followers, the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession of spirits and animals that roamed the sky during the winter nights. They also told stories and poems about Odin and his adventures. It was a family day pulling everyone together to spend time telling tales and being close.

On the fourth day of Yule, people honoured Thor, the god of thunder, strength, and protection. They ate and drank in his name, and thanked him for his blessings. They also carved runes and amulets for protection and luck. If you don't fancy making Thors hammer amulets use this day to make something simple to act as protection for your family. For an easy option why not make my tripple goddess knot, only a length of string in needed, guild click here

On the fifth day of Yule, people honoured Frey, the god of fertility, prosperity, and peace. They exchanged gifts and tokens of love and friendship, and wished for a fruitful and prosperous year. They also made wreaths and garlands of mistletoe, holly, and ivy, which were sacred to Frey. Again making the Wreath was part of the festivities rather than something that you made in advance.

On the sixth day of Yule, people honoured Freya, the goddess of love, beauty, and magic. They celebrated with feasts, music, and dancing, and expressed their joy and gratitude for life. They also practiced divination and seidr, a form of shamanic magic that Freya taught to Odin. So Boxing day (as of 2023) is the day to break out your favourite divination tools and scry the future.

On the seventh day of Yule, people honoured Balder, the god of light, joy, and purity. They remembered his death and resurrection, and hoped for his return in the new world. They also played games and sports, and enjoyed the snow and ice. A great day to break out those new boardgames, invite people over who are getting bored and have a games night.

On the eighth day of Yule, people honoured Skadi, the goddess of winter, hunting, and skiing. They admired her beauty and strength, and respected her independence and justice. They also went hunting and skiing, and enjoyed the cold and the wilderness. Not everyone is going to enjoy a hunt, but getting out in nature to spend some time to appreciate the beauty of the world around us should be our target on this day.

On the ninth day of Yule, people honoured Ullr, the god of archery, skiing, and dueling. They praised his skill and courage, and challenged themselves and others to contests of honor and glory. They also made offerings of skis, bows, and arrows to Ullr. Although Monopoly in our house tends to turn into a blood sport, contents of strength should be slightly more energetic.

On the tenth day of Yule, people honoured Loki, the god of mischief, fire, and change. They laughed at his tricks and pranks, and acknowledged his role in the balance of the world. They also played jokes and riddles, and embraced the chaos and the change.  Again draw together with friends or family and have some fun, even if its settling down for a good comedy film.

On the eleventh day of Yule, for the end of the year people honoured the ancestors, the spirits of the dead who lived on in the otherworld. They remembered their names and deeds, and honoured their legacy and wisdom. They also set a place for them at the table, and shared stories and memories with them. We have all lost someone who remains in our hearts. Use this day to remind yourself how they have touched your life. Pull out the old photographs, share their stories with those too young to remember them and keep them alive. Click here for my memory stones for those feeling crafty.

On the twelfth day of Yule, people honoured the Norns, the goddesses of fate who wove the threads of destiny. They reflected on the past, the present, and the future, and made resolutions and plans for the new year. They also burned the remains of the Yule log, and scattered the ashes for good luck. This day normally falls around the new year and the tradition lives on as "New Year Resolutions". Don't aim for the impossible, practical resolutions are far easier to stick to.

For more ideas of things to make or do, click here for my masterpost.

[yuriko-mukami]

Prologue

I closed my book and glanced out of the window. Oh my gosh! Finally, it was snowing! The white dots danced against the darkened sky. Darting up, I dashed closer, almost pressing my nose against the glass.

"Yosh!"

"Haa... you're such a handful, my angel." Ruki's voice wafted behind me. He stepped closer, enveloping my waist with his arm and pulling me against his chest while his musky scent embraced me as well. He chuckled into my hair. "Though I have to admit that the view is quite peaceful."

"Mhm, it is indeed." I couldn't hide a giggle that raised deep within me. So beautiful. And now we would get the white, snowy season I have yearned for. "Umh... you know, Ruki... I have a wish..."

"What is it then?" Ruki's whisper almost tickled my ears. His voice was so soft and tempting me to turn around, but my gaze was glued to the snowflakes.

"I know you don't care about Christmas that much... but...umh... Well, in the next year, we'll be much busier and it might be we can't arrange anything bigger. So... I was just reading this book and the characters were celebrating something else than Christmas during this time of year... and I thought we could... do something similar."

"Is that so?" Ruki took my shoulders, spinning me around. My butt hit the windowsill but I didn't mind.

I nodded. "Yes. Winter solstice. They were celebrating because the darkening times were over and the sun was slowly coming back. The family and friends gathered to welcome the sun and then spent a nice time together. They had a tasty dinner too. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?"

"Are you trying to pique your master's interest by the talk about making a special dinner~?"

Ruki locked his gaze with mine. The stormy blue and gray of his eyes made my stomach churn pleasantly.

"Hehe, perhaps I am indeed~"

"How very bold of you." A smirk rose on Ruki's lips as he leaned his face closer to mine, almost touching my nose.

I swallowed as Ruki's mouth started to open, and my heart took a leap. "Umh..."

Ruki chuckled again as if he was amused by my reaction. "Did you know that the winter solstice has another name?" he asked.

Shaking my head, I placed my hand on Ruki's shoulder and squeezed slightly. Being this close to him made it difficult to focus on the conversation, especially since I could see how the tips of his fangs peeked when he talked. Oh, how I wished him to... but... but... I knew we should be more careful with that for now.

Ruki lifted his hand, grabbing my chin. His cold thumb traced the skin right under my bottom lip. "It is called Yule." He smiled. "And if it's my angel's wish, we shall have a Yule dinner with family and perhaps a few friends as well. You should have this experience since it will be different the next year. Let's enjoy this now."

Before I had time to answer, demanding lips caught mine, swiping every coherent thought out of my mind.

___

Ruki sprites received from @ruki-mukami-dl whose Ruki I also had in my mind when I was writing this. Probably I couldn't get the tone perfect but I hope you can live with it, honey~

[tangledbea]

Do you think Corona has something like Iceland’s Yule Cat in their Christmas tradition?

This is a super interesting question, and one I've never received before!

First of all, I don't headcanon that Corona celebrates Christmas (regardless of supplemental storybooks or comics or whatever else), and this is because Corona has clearly allied itself to the sun. I therefore think it works on a solar calendar, and celebrates the Winter Solstice (Yule) instead of Christmas.

In my headcanon, there's a few annual traditions that Corona does for the Solstice:

The palace prepares an enormous feast and opens its doors and literally everyone is invited to come in to partake of the good food and drink and warmth. Gifts are given to everyone who passes through the doors, so that no one in Corona has to go without any solstice presents.

An unmarried young woman (the princess, if she's eligable) plays the part of the Sun Maiden. She wears a gold dress and crown of mistletoe and solicits kisses from everyone she sees (not salaciously), in an attempt to wake the Sun from her long slumber. Since on the day after Solstice, the days begin to grow longer, it seems to work every year! (If the princess is eligable but unwilling, she gets to select that year's Sun Maiden. The point is that the young woman has got to want the job -- no one who doesn't want it is made to do it.)

They carve luminaries out of ice which are lit through the night, and the heat from the candles that are lit inside them cause them to gradually melt, thus signifying the end of the darkest part of the year and the approach of the coming spring.

But as for unique creatures attached to their traditions, I've never thought much about it! I only learned about Jólakötturinn last year, but it calls to mind another big cat who would be more closely linked to Christmas if only the right story when the holiday had gotten its new foothold in the modern world had become more popular: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (yes that L. Frank Baum; the one who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of OZ).

In The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, a baby Claus is found in the woods by Ak, a Supreme Immortal, and given to a lioness named Shiegra to be cared for. Though the wood nymph Necile eventually adopts and raises him, Shiegra stays a part of his life. Rankin/Bass did a stop motion adaptation of it in 1985, which I watch just about every year, and though the plot follows Santa from youth to legend, every year I marvel at how a shift in popularity might have given us a culture-wide lioness as part of our Christmas traditions.

Anyway, between Shiegra and Jólakötturinn, I'm happy to start thinking about including some sort of big cat into Corona's Winter Solstice traditions!

[ohworm-writes]

✪— THE GIFT OF EVERGREEN —✪

PAIRING Shota Aizawa x gn!Reader

RATING General Audiences

WARNINGS None

SYNOPSIS Shota has never been one to celebrate holidays, no matter if they be major or minor. He’s found himself content with acknowledge an holiday and doing nothing more. However, he comes to find that mindset is quick to change. 

WORD COUNT 0.7k

AUTHORS NOTE I personally celebrate Yuletide, and this year is the first I openly am doing it with the knowledge of my family. I just finished making a select celebratory items earlier today and have been in the mood for quite some time to write again for my favorite fictional man, so what say we combine the two?

Yule (also called Jul, jól or joulu) is a festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples. Scholars have connected the original celebrations of Yule to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht ("Mothers' Night").

The aforementioned quote is taken from Wikipedia to define and describe the winter festival, Yule. Although recognized as an archaic term for Christmas, this holiday is still widely celebrated amongst select communities, namely neo-pagans, and takes place from approximately December 20th through January 1st. There is no set of rules, dos and don'ts or guidelines on how to celebrate this holiday, although common customs and traditions comprise burning a Yule log, having a feast, creating a wreath and otherwise. 

—-

Shota has seldom heard the term ‘yule’ or ‘yuletide’ come up during the winter months, though he still has heard of the celebration before. Passing students discussing the topic, civilians, the internet; where or whoever the source may have come from. He’d searched on the event once before, a quick search on Google defining it as an ‘archaic term for Christmas’ and, although that does the holiday tradition no justice, he chose to leave it at that.

He’s never really been one to ‘go all out’ and celebrate holidays, perhaps putting on a festive sweatshirt or hat, maybe placing an insignificant item of decor in his home, but it’s never gone further than that. Not to say he doesn’t acknowledge or celebrate them in his own way, though.

However, this lack of open celebration changed when he met you. 

Now you, oh- you. You crawled your way into his heart so quickly and suddenly it took him by surprise (a very welcome surprise, mind you), changing and altering so many aspects of his everyday life that he still discovers more to this day. Cleaning habits, opinions on select topics;  so many that it would take days to name all of them. 

But one he never expected was the celebration of the winter solstice, the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky: Yuletide. 

It took him till the winter months to see this new side of you. The one where you’d create a small wreath out of evergreen branches, twine, holly berries and anything else you’d deem necessary. The one where you’d prepare, make and burn a Yule log, spending so many hours of your days and nights perfecting it for the 12-day-long celebration. The one where you’d spend just a little bit longer outside, thanking the divine for the gift of the sun and its warmth and light. The one where you’d decorate your altar with symbols of the holiday: colored candles, evergreens, fruits, pine cones and more, honoring and thanking the divine for the gift. 

You’d do so much to celebrate this holiday, he soon came to realize. It meant so much to you.

And, naturally, he began to celebrate with you.

It started off with simply asking if you needed help with anything. If you require him to go out and buy any essential supplies, to bring you select plant cuttings or evergreen branches he found already broken off from their parent tree. He would watch over your shoulder, leaving against your back as you meticulously threaded the twine around the branches and interwoven holly stems into them. 

But then, things sped up. He’d leave specially thought out items onto your altar, giving thanks in his own way to the divine you looked to guidance for. He’d spend much more time out in the sun, in his mind, thanking the world for this gift. He’d looked forward to the holiday, discussing with you the plan for celebration this year.

He only realized how deep he was in when a student commented on the greenery that adorned his podium, the red candle on his desk and the scent of pine—not artificial—that enveloped the classroom.

He just shook his head, burying his face deep into his capture weapon as a small smile graced his face.

Oh, the wonders a person like you could do. The way you affected and affected parts of his life that even he was unaware of. 

Yuletide, a winter festival he once knew nothing of, was now the only part of the year he truly looked to with such unbridled joy and anticipation. A holiday he knows he’d never come to adore as much without your influence. A holiday he’s marked on his calendar, circled and highlighted and underlined in red just to make sure he doesn’t forget.

A holiday in which he loves.

[thecatsandthecrone]

Wheel of the Year: Yule

Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash ☽🔮☾🕯🃏🌕🕸✨🍃🍄🧿🌙✩ 🪄📚

Yuletide, Yule, Christmas… one of the biggest festivals in the wheel of the year and definitely one of the most popular ones, as it got adapted into Christianity and popularized as the "day of the birth of Christ". It is now known, observed and celebrated all over the world, be the country Christian or not. Even if Christmas is celebrated the 25th of December, Yule os more commonly celebrated between the 21st and the 23rd December on the North Hemisphere and between the 21st and the 23rd of June in the Southern Hemiphere.

Yule comes right after Samhain and before Imbolc. While pagan in origin, Christianity took from it, adapted it and turned into the majour festival of this religion.This is also one of the easiest to celebrate big time without needing to come out of the broom closet: a lot of the imagery of Christmas actually mirrors that from Yule, in fact.

Yule is the celebration of the winter solstice. Yule celebrates midwinter, and the longest night of the year. What this signifies is that the reign of darkness is over, the tipping point has been passed, and the reign of light is coming back. From now on, days are becoming warmer and warmer, sunnier and sunnier and life will start to come back to Earth, as winter winds down.

We don't know exactly where the origin of the word "yule" comes from, but it is suspected it might come from Old Norse, the word “jól", which meant a celebratory feast. The festival also has ties to Germanic and Scandinavian gods such as Odin, and it also played a part on their folklore.

Yule is a time for rejoicing. It mainly celebrates letting go of the old, accounting for the past year, cleaning house and making room for the new, shiny coming things. It's a time for rebirth, new beginnings and hope. It is also a time for reflection and introspection, to make sure not to repeat the same mistakes of the past year, and to try to steer ourselves in the good direction. It is also a time to chase away the darkness through joy and merriment: ignoring that the harvests have ended and our reserves are almost empty, let's celebrate and make merry for the good times are coming soon!

It doesn't matter where you live: Christmas, and therefore Yule, has become so popularized and commercialized that you probably can celebrate it inside your home and outside the house for the entire month of December. In most countries of the world illuminations, jingles, people dressed up as something or other and all sorts of shiny decorations will help you get in the holiday spirit. This is also one of the strong suits of Yule: you can still celebrate as much as you want, deck the halls and get into the holiday spirit… while still being extremely subtle about the fact that you practice witchcraft !

If you'd like to celebrate Yule, here you have a short list of options available to you. Some might be more adecuate to solitary practice, others might be best if you are part of a coven.Some allow you to get all materialistic about it, while others will help you keep in touch with the more traditional, raw side of the festival. Whichever you choose, make sure to enjoy yourself and look forward to the hope and hapiness this event brings us !

-Candles: Ever wondered why candles feature so prominently in Christmas decor ? Well, it's part of an old tradition where candles and fires were lit for Yule, both to light up the longest, darkest night of the year and to honour the Sun and call it home. Both candles and fire are incredibly popular motifs for Yule and many traditions include them, so if you can, light some: battery candles will do as well !

-Decorate: It's pretty evident that decorating is also a big theme in Yule. Christmas has become extremely commercial and big, lavish, expensive decorations have become the go-to; but just like with all the other festivals you don't need to break the bank to bring that holiday spirit home. Buying commercial decorations is not the only way to deck the halls: crafting your own, or collecting seasonal items such as pinecones, holly or mistletoe from nature are all fantastic options. Just make sure you are not damaging any plants or taking any protected species (holly is endangered in many countries) and you are golden !

-Crafting: Yule celebrates the longest night of the year, which means up until then the hours of night, of dark and of cold have been too long to go outside. This makes Yule a great festival to sit by the bonfire (or by candlelight) crafting decorations. Sew, crochet, felt, draw or create in any way that pleases you both to decorate your house and to offer gifts to your loved ones. I would recommend creating an evergreen wreath: they are so simple to make and so elegant !

-Bake: Like I mentioned just before, the days before Yule are too dark and cold to be out of the house much. The harvest season has also ended, so fresh ingredients are lacking: baking with dry ingredients such as flour served a double purpose back in the day (cleaning up the pantry from non-perishables that would sustain you through winter and starting the oven that would light up the entire house). Cookies and biscuits are traditional, but so are breads, pies, cakes, pizza… highly caloric, sugary food is favoured as well: you need to put on some weight to be able to deal with the freezing winter temperatures!

-Feast: "Feast", "festival"… close enough. You can't have a festival without feasting, and what are you going to do, not eat all those delicious cookies you just baked ? To really honour the season and bring some good luck and prosperity your way, make sure to share that feast with your loved ones or to do some charity !

-Share: While Christianity and Christmas might have popularized the "charity" aspect of Yule, it was always important to share during this season: those neighbours that weren't as fortunate in the past year might be running low on supplies and ingredients. Therefore, sharing is extremely important during Yule if you have extra, no matter what shape it takes: share your abundance by inviting your loved ones to a feast, give lovely gifts to those around you, share your time and joy by volunteering at a soup kitchen…

-Divination: Yule is close enough to the end of the year that you might be wondering what it has in store for you. Using a pendulum, scrying, tarot, tasseomancy… any way is good to discover what the future might hold and to look forward to it.

-Deep cleansing: Yule is a moment of saying goodbye to the past and honouring rebirth and new beginnings, so it is a particularly auspicious moment to make inventory, clean house and make room for the new and coming. This might be more metaphorical (looking back in the past year and letting go of what didn't serve you) or more physical, like really cleaning your house. Cleanse yourself and your house and don't forget to protect yourself to keep the wacky energies at bay.

-Shadow work: Yule is a particularly good moment for self reflection, for looking into the past and for being honest with ourselves. Shadow work will help you come to terms with the most painful parts of your past and of yourself, make a clean break with them and, if you can't let them go, make strides to integrate them into yourself and to start the healing process.

-Honouring: Yule marks the day where the Sun, the brightness and the warmth start to return to us. It would be a good moment to honour the Sun, honour your deities, honour yourself and everything and all that have allowed you to come to this place. Meditation, self reflection, gratefulness, offerings to your deities… all things that help you feel connected to yourself and the world, and everything that makes you feel grateful and hopeful for the future, works here.

-Decorate your altar: We can't have a festival without decorating your altar ! Add colours, motifs and themes that remind you of the season to your altar. It's also a good option to add offerings to any deities you might work with.

Colours associated with Yule: White, black, red, green, silver, gold Crystals associated with Yule: Black obsidian, red jasper, carnelian, calcite, sunstone Food associated with Yule: Apples, spices, wine and alcoholic beverages, baked items, meat, berries, sweets

I hope you have enjoyed this post. If you would like me to continue making posts like this please support me so I can continue making them: you can support me by donating here https://ko-fi.com/bunnymatchamochi or by visiting my Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LovenestAtelier?ref=profile_header Reblogs and likes also help ! Thank you so much for reading me !

[themarginalthinker]

Hey there I have a question: do you think the boys would like celebrate any holidays or birthdays with each other? And if they did what would they do?

Good question! And one I've considered as well!

I think it's different for all of them, including Michael and even Star. It also largely depends on three things - how much they individually care, how old they are, and what exactly the holiday/event means to them. (Under readmore due to length lmao sorry -_-")

David: Turned in the early 1870s - The biggest holiday for him would likely be Christmas as he was some denomination of Christian (though if you asked him, he'd say with a roll of his eyes that he'd be in Hell purely for how little he actually attended church when he was alive). The custom of Halloween came over from Ireland and started to comebine with other fall celebrations into the fetus that would become what we today know as Halloween in about the 1840s with the immigrants coming from the potato famine, and David's parents were children when they immigrated, so he'd have some idea of that.

I think he still likes the idea of the holidays, but it's hit or miss whether he celebrates them any more. In a lot of ways, he sees them as a very human thing, and though he can still see the spirit of celebrating or commemorating the passage of time, certain points of the year like Equinoxes or Solstices (times of power), he may not do anything particularly special.

He also doesn't celebrate his birthday for similar reasons. He keeps a memory of it, but...any more, it's just to add another tally mark on the wall of his mind to count the years, the decades he's been alive.

Dwayne: Turned in 1900 - Dwayne doesn't tend to enjoy European holidays. Most of them are pretty well tied with religion, and given his history, and his outlook on most of humanity, he tends to avoid much of anything to do with them. Even if he was human, I think the sheer commercialism would drive him batshit up the belfry. And really, it's not limited to Christian celebrations either - the new age witchy stuff with Samhain, Yule, the Eight Major Wiccan holidays; even eastern religious stuff tends to put him off (though that's more for lack of familiarity and the similarities he sees in white people adopting the language of eastern philosophy but not actually understanding it feels much, MUCH too close to home.)

Dwayne will enjoy drinks at a party, but he won't really stick around for anything more. If you want to give him a gift or something, fine, but don't expect one back.

This attitude doesn't really change when Laddie comes into the picture, but Dwayne doesn't want to make him sad, so he lets the kid have fun with the others.

Dwayne does not know his birthday. I am unsure what cultural practices the Haida people of the western coast of Canada had in regards to birthdays or something akin to it, so I cannot write that for him, but regardless, because of what happened to him, Dwayne does not remember even what time of year his birthday was in. He counts the years like David does though, and just marks it at January 1st for convenience's sake.

Paul: Turned in 1956 - Paul does enjoy most of what we consider to be modern holidays! Paul came from a pretty religious family, mainline Protestant (his father was a pastor of their church), so he definitely celebrated the big ones, like Christmas and Easter. Now. Whether or not he liked them.....well. He likes them here and now. Paul enjoys candy, sweets of most kinds but especially candy. He likes the way the seasons bring different flavors with them - peppermint in winter even on the sunny west coast, chocolate at Halloween, popsicles in the sticky summer, and more recently - yes, he's that bitch - pumpkin spice in the fall. Oh, and drinking. Paul mainly celebrates with lots of indulgences of many kinds, and is always down for a party no matter what it is you're having it for.

Sometimes, though, you CAN catch him in an off moment, usually right after the holidays, or during ones like Easter or Christmas, where he won't. Really be in the mood. Paul doesn't 'come down' so to speak often, but when he does, he ends up hitting the proverbial floor of his emotions pretty hard. Sometimes, his past gets the better of him still, and seeing as his bane is being affected by holiness, it still hurts to pray, but that doesn't mean he won't do it - even if out of a sense of chasing the ghosts off his back.

Paul treats himself for his birthday, and when Marko came to the pack, of course he wanted to do something nice for Paul. Usually a little gift, or just saying 'whatever we do together tonight, happy birthday'. He keeps birthday trinkets from Marko especially close.

Marko: Turned 1980 - Marko is similar to Paul in a lot of respects. Even more modern, but oddly both more and less religious. We call Paul a 'good Protestant' and Marko a 'bad Catholic', and it's true. Marko's family did pretty much the whole nine yards, having come right over from Italy and then having their son. Marko's idea of holidays usually involved a lot of church, which wasn't...unfun? He had friends, but it wasn't ever the most exciting thing for a rambunctious kid to be doing. Marko likes summer and fall holidays the most, when it's basically just an excuse to eat a lot of food, drink and lot of drinks, and have fun.

He and Paul have a blast treating Laddie - they even went trick or treating with him the year that they had him, Marko having made Laddie a custom wolf mask and tail with a pelt that Dwayne had saved from a coyote. Star was. Well. She was impressed with the craftsmanship and didn't want to spoil Laddie's pure vibrating joy at the gift. She saved her complaints for later.

Marko isn't sure how he feels about his birthday to be honest. A part of him still wants to celebrate it, because that still makes logical sense to him. After having done it for the past 18 years of his life it feels more weird to stop than not. And. It's not really about the gifts, but being an only child (and a boy) he had a fair amount of attention poured onto him, but he feels...weird asking for that from the Boys, even if by all rights, they'd give him attention for a special day. Marko and Paul will share some pastries and drinks, maybe a body (or three) and Marko is satisfied. Sometimes he wonders if he will ever stop bothering, like David and Dwayne.

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On the whole for the pack, holidays tend to be small affairs. Feasts Hunts, similar to the hunt shown in the movie are actually much rarer events, only occurring once and a while throughout the year. This is getting a little into oc and YCCM territory, but there is a coven of vampires called The Sarahs that the Boys end up meeting and becoming allies with, and they spend major holidays with them when they're invited.

Vampires have things they celebrate...sort of as a culture? They're not a monolith, and indeed, pretty isolated. A pack from just a state over will look totally different than another, and largely depends on what the members celebrate or decide to do.

Vampires tend to commemorate when they were turned more than when they were born, they celebrate Centennials (hundred year marks), they celebrate 'rainbow teeth' which is when they get old enough (usually older than about 200 or so) and their teeth start showing the opalescence of their bones and blood. They celebrate first kills, if it was consensual. They celebrate mateship.

[will-you-pick-me]

(Note: I know there's loads more, but many of them I know nothing about and don't feel I'd be able to write about accurately and give them the full respect they deserve because I don't know enough about them, and let's be honest, Google can suck when it comes to trying to do anything that isn't buying a product nowadays. So, unfortunately, I'm limited to the more widely known winter holidays that are likely to have more accurate information about them available, or that I celebrate/used to celebrate myself.)

(Note 2: If this poll sees little to no interaction, I will default to "no holiday" to keep things as open to everyone as I can, since I know my audience is pretty diverse. I don't want to make a decision based off of 5 votes when there's easily over 100 of you now, so please let me know what you want ^-^)