| |
|
| |
|
It’s Summer Solstice —
so let’s party!
|
It's time to get together and celebrate
this solar event. Our ancient ancestors did!
|
Before they knew how to record history, humans celebrated our longest day of our year. Now referred to as June Solstice, it is still celebrated in many parts of our world, especially in Scandinavia and England.
Stonehenge was subjected to ravages of wind, weather and human activities for 4,600 years because, unlike Newgrange, it was "above ground". It was used to indicate precisely when June Solstice occurred.
Originally called Summer Solstice, it celebrated our year's midpoint. Stonehenge in England, and our world's oldest surviving man-made structure — Newgrange in Ireland — were among many devices constructed by Stone Age humans to precisely calculate when solstices occurred.
Newgrange in Ireland, our world's oldest surviving structure was erected in 3200 BC which makes it 600 years older than Egypt's pyramids at Giza and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. It was used to determine timing for Winter (December) Solstice.
In a futile attempt to curtail celebration of what they cconsidered a pagan celebration, Catholic Church officials made it St. John the Baptist Day. It is one of only a few Saints' Days that Catholics celebrate even when it occurs on Sunday.
It would appear that those of us who still observe solar Solstices and Equinoxes receive no respect or consideration. Over our last 2,000 years, religions, cults and governments have hijacked ancient solar celebrations and attempted to attach a new significance to these genuine events.
Most recently, Canada has declared it National Aboriginal Day. We are led to believe that North American aboriginals celebrated June solstice. There is no record of this. And if we voice an objection, we are seen as racists. We are not.
We would prefer if “Johnny-come-latelies” left our original solar milestones alone but there is not much chance of that happening. They have already appropriated our December Solstice for Christmas and our Equinoxes for more than forty religious “events”.
I wonder what would happen after 50 years if Atheists decided to celebrate Atheism on, say, July 15 th or October 10 th .
In many countries, June Solstice is still a ribald celebration with bonfires, drinking, and boisterous activities that last all night long. Nine months later societies observing this holiday experience a very high birth rate. Our practice of holding June Weddings originated with June Solstice as they were thought to be fruitful.
Its precise minute is widely publicized. This year it occurs on June 21 st at 5:45 a.m. at Greenwich, England.
Of course, in our Southern Hemisphere it is our year's shortest day.
My friends gather around bonfires, exchange cards, sing songs, and partake of specially prepared food and drink — as when Stone Age humans celebrated this important milestone in their year — but we celebrate without their ribald activities and . . . without gods!
Anton Kozlik
Home Comment Policy Contact Us
|
|
|
Atheist
Quotes
 Atheism is nothing new. That's been going on for thousands of years. What is new is that for the first time you had parents in the 50s, 60s, and 70s who found that it was liberating to raise kids without any religion. There's a small group, like myself, who were entirely secular. .
Douglas Coupland
1961 -
Writer, Playright
Author of best seller, "Generation X"
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
My definition of morality . . .
“No one should expose another living entity to unwarranted pain, loss, or deprivation!”
|
|
|
| |
|
*Terms and Definitions
My articles may contain words or phrases that may infer different meanings to different readers, or readers may be unfamiliar with a term or its definition. I feel it is important to know what writers meant when they used a word or term.
cognitive dissonance —
Filtering out information that conflicts with what one already believes, in an effort to ignore that information and reinforce one’s beliefs.
Editors note: I will be repeating the “cognitive dissonance” definition for quite a while since it is practiced by so many — known by so few!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Grandpa said . . .
“In Finland we had big bonfires beside the lake, drank, sang and generally had a great time! And, of course, nine months later a lot of babies were born!”
I learned many things at my grandpa's knee. I believe that most of them helped me in my life. I share his comments with you.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Is it really helping society
to give youth offenders a special status?
In our last 150 years our young people have been given an additional
five years to mature!
Click here
to read my last posting.
|
|
|
