The practice of giving thanks is deeply rooted in human history, with ancient civilizations and pagan traditions having their own variations of a Thanksgiving celebration. While the concept of giving thanks may differ across cultures and religious beliefs, the underlying act of expressing gratitude remains a common thread. In ancient Greece, the Greeks celebrated a festival known as Thesmophoria, dedicated to the goddess Demeter. This festival was a time for women to give thanks for the harvest and fertility. Similarly, the Romans celebrated a festival called Cerelia, in honor of the goddess Ceres, to show gratitude for the agricultural abundance. In Norse mythology, the Vikings had a harvest festival called Freyfaxi, dedicated to the god Freyr who was associated with fertility.
In Norse mythology, the Vikings had a harvest festival called Freyfaxi, dedicated to the god Freyr who was associated with fertility. This festival was an occasion to give thanks for a good harvest and seek blessings for the coming year. In Celtic culture, the holiday of Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Is Thanksgiving a Pagan Holiday?
The congregations of God obey his commands and keep his weekly and annual sabbaths holy. We set those days aside as special time to worship God with his spiritual family. We do not observe annual holidays like Christmas and Easter so why is Thanksgiving different? The common reasoning is that Christmas and Easter are "pagan" holidays, and Thanksgiving is a secular national holiday and does not originate from “paganism”.
It was a time to offer prayers and thanks to the gods for a bountiful harvest and seek their protection during the harsh winter months. While these pagan celebrations were not identical to the modern-day Thanksgiving practiced in North America, they share a commonality of expressing gratitude for the blessings of the harvest and giving thanks to the gods or goddesses associated with fertility and abundance. The modern-day Thanksgiving as celebrated in America traces its roots back to the 1621 harvest feast between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans. This event was a celebration of the successful harvest and a way for the pilgrims to show their gratitude for the help and support they received from the Native Americans. In conclusion, pagan traditions and ancient civilizations did practice variations of Thanksgiving celebrations. Whether it was the Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Celts, or Native Americans, the act of expressing gratitude and giving thanks for the harvest and abundance was essential to their cultures. These traditions and practices have played a role in shaping the concept of Thanksgiving as we know it today..
Reviews for "The Evolution of Thanksgiving: Influence of Pagan Traditions"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Did pagans practice thanksgiving". The book had a promising premise, but I felt like it didn't deliver on its potential. The author barely touched upon the historical evidence and instead focused more on personal anecdotes and opinions. The writing style was also quite convoluted, making it difficult to follow the main arguments. Overall, I found the book to be poorly researched and lacking in substance.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I cannot recommend "Did pagans practice thanksgiving" to anyone. The author's arguments were weak and unsubstantiated. There was a lack of credible sources and scholarly evidence presented. Additionally, the writing was incoherent and repetitive. It seemed like the author was more interested in pushing their own agenda rather than providing a well-reasoned analysis. I was extremely disappointed with this book.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - "Did pagans practice thanksgiving" was a letdown for me. The author had a great opportunity to delve into an intriguing topic, but instead, the book felt shallow and superficial. I found myself wanting more in-depth analysis and research to support the claims made. The writing style was also quite dry and uninspiring. I was hoping for a thought-provoking read, but unfortunately, this book fell short.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was expecting "Did pagans practice thanksgiving" to provide a comprehensive exploration of the topic, but I was left disappointed. The book lacked a cohesive structure, making it difficult to follow the author's line of thought. The chapters seemed disjointed, and the author's arguments were often unclear. While there were some interesting points raised, overall, I felt like the book failed to provide a thorough examination of the subject matter.