Anchorage’s publicly-funded “Winter Solstice Festival” has excluded any reference to “Christmas” from its annual celebration of the “return of the sun.”
To be sure there will be “twinkling” lights and horse drawn carriage rides, but even the mention of Santa is carefully worded to avoid the “C” word.
“[Y]ou might see Santa if he’s not too busy getting ready for his big day,” a notice for the event states.
The Dec. 19 event at Cuddy Park, happens on the darkest day of the year, when the sun reaches its lowest point below the horizon and just before it begins the long trek back to full strength on June 21. Pagan groups typically mark the winter event with ceremonies that highlight the “birth of the sun” rather than the nativity of Christ.
Winter Solstice observances are popular among pagans who want nothing to do with Christmas, Christ or the Nativity, but still want to gather with family and friends to celebrate with “twinkle” lights, “festive” music, and “holiday” treats.
Anchorage’s city-sponsored Winter Solstice event fits this description perfectly.
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“There is nothing like bringing in the holiday season and enjoying the fresh air on a beautiful night in this lighted park!” a notice for the event states. “This beloved midtown spot comes alive as we celebrate the return of the sun, featuring not only the lighted skating oval but also an adorable pond skating area surrounded by twinkling lights.”
While not part of the upcoming Winter Festival, other pagan rituals include goddess ceremonies that celebrate the “birth of the sun” rather than the birth of Jesus.
16 Comments
They can’t have anything overtly Christian because that might mean they have to have morals and ethics. Could lead to people finding out about the 10 Commandments, y’know?
Evangelical Christians don’t seem to have any morals or ethics. They overwhelmingly support a corrupt, lying, bigoted sexual predator for president. You aren’t making any sense. Weird. Oh wait–you think ‘cuz Trump’s immune from prosecution for breaking the law means he can break the 10 Commandments too! Yeah, I see your perspective now, Tammy.
Victor/Victoria – your cognitive dissonance is only exceeded by your refusal to accept reality. Corrupt Dementia Joe took in $27,000,000 in illicit funds from ChiRusKazUkr. Fact. p67 Ashley Biden’s diary, “I have started taking showers late at night so dad won’t come in with me.” Fact. Autopen “signed” prepardons for 8 of his 9 co-corrupt immediate family & some for his cabinet. Fact. Addled Biden threw $420,000,000 out the window at any fraudulent organization he could find in the last 60 days of his term.
What are you talking about? Where is your evidence that Trump is bigoted or corrupt? You don’t make any sense.
That’s easy to understand… Anchorage has gone to hēll.
And we stand by and watch Anchorage crumble as las the blue city’s fall all over the country and world for that matter.
Maybe we need a mass migration of (common sense) conservatives to take back that city. It seems the few who remain there either are too few or just don’t have the fortitude to for a return of sanity and decency.
I was in the Seattle airport yesterday for an unfortunate amount of time and trekked across alot of the place. Kwanza galore as well as Chunakah and winter holiday themes. Not one reference to Jesus.
Thank you Lord for Your Word and Your remnant. Thank you for Jesus.
Amen!
Christmas, Jesus is the reason for the season.
Did our Assembly move up here from the West Coast or the Northeast coast?
Might be interested in some ‘Goddess’ ceremonies.
What do the godesses look like? Hope it’s not those overweight vegan women who eat too much bakery goods.
Paganism is religious. It’s just not Christian religous. If a Church wanted to have a city-funded celebration of Joseph, Mary and Jesus at taxpayer expense ya think someone would sue and say you can’t do that “separation of church and state you know” it’s a repudiated doctrine, but everyone knows it.
Why is it that if it’s thinly-veiled pagan religion – worshiping the sun or false gods it’s OK? Can an Assembly member please tell us. Or do some of us have to sue?
Excluding Christianity from the festival comes straight out of the communist playbook. Their logic- no God, no “God given rights”. Communists loathe the idea that your rights comes from somewhere higher than a government they control.
Why would the city hold a religious celebration and alienate anyone who is not Christian? Love thy neighbor, but only if you worship the same way. Celebrating the return of the sunlight is universal. Religion is not.
Last I checked, Solstice has absolutely nothing to do with religion, so why bring it up? Just trying to get people angry, right Joel…? Quit sensationalizing.