Wiccans celebrate birth of a different god

By David VerziPrint Story | Email Story
LEE — The birth of the Son of God has been celebrated for some 2,000 years, the birth of the Sun God for eons longer. Increasingly, in the United States and Europe, modern-day pagans, or Wiccans, on the eve of the winter solstice, or Yule, commemorate the birth of the Sun God by their Goddess. "Wicca is the fastest growing religion the United States," said Pamela Getner, high priestess of the South Lee-based "Chalice Well" coven — and, yes, both Wiccan women and men are correctly referred to as "witches.” "Estimates run to 250,000 American Wiccans, but it's difficult to be sure because while some converts become members of covens, others are 'solitaries,' practicing in their homes," Getner said. She also cited as a reason for growth the fact that more Wiccan clergy are qualifying to perform the sect's marriage rite, called "handfasting,” in an increasing number of states, including Massachusetts. Getner explained that Yule festivities, which may begin a week prior to the solstice and continue for days past, include coven gatherings at hearty meals centered around beef roasts and accented with spice cakes and mulled wine, the burning of an oak Yule log to coax the sun's return and songs and dances, in Celtic and general medieval traditions, to raise energy to help the Goddess birth the Sun. "The Yule log," Getner said, " is what remains of the ancient pagan tradition of setting bonfires to signal to the Sun God that the people were eager for his birth." Also common are pageants, the main characters crowned with appropriate leaves, depicting a stronger Oak King defeating a weaker Holly King in mock battle — signifying that the days will now be growing longer and eventually fruitful. The Wiccan altar at Yule is bedecked with candles and the colors of the season, with red, white, gold and green predominating. Also, as Yule means "wheel," hung nearby is a Sun Wheel symbolizing the life cycle of the God — his annual birth, youth, maturity and dying. "For Wiccans, Yule is a time for thanksgiving and giving," Getner said. Among popular exchanged gifts are garden gloves and tools, in observance that the Wiccans hold the Earth as holy. It is also common during Yule for covens to donate vegetables and fruits, the bounty of the Sacred Earth, to food pantries. Getner, also the proprietor of "Woman of Wands," a "dot com" Wiccan religious goods shop, noted that Yule was one of the religion's eight Sabbats, solar holidays associated with the God. She explained that Yule was not a time for "asking" or seeking the intervention of the divine through the invocation of "magick" (the Wiccan spelling). "The working of our magicks is more closely associated with Goddess celebrations (called Esbats and annually numbering 14) centered around the moon rather than the sun," she said, noting that Wiccan magick is manifested though focusing on the spirit and nature's powerful elements of water, air, fire and earth. Getner said many converts in the past sought out the Wiccan way to tap its magick, but those drawn lately are attracted by its emphasis on sound ecological practices, the logical female-male balance in its deity and its offering of a greater direct access to the divine. "Wiccan clergy serve and aid,” she said. “But we're not saying that you have to talk to us to speak to the God or Goddess." Getner, while noting the link between Christmas and Yule, also acknowledged the age-old Christian suspicion and misunderstanding of witches, "However," she said, "the primary rule of Wiccan magick is to 'do what you will but harm none,' and while our religion is not Christian, it is just as assuredly not anti-Christian." She noted that the Dec. 25 celebration of the birth of Christ took root in the third century, as Christianity swept into Europe, and while the "new religion" sometimes put the pagan practitioners of the "old religion" to the stake or sword, there were also accommodations made to make the new God more acceptable. Finding that the pagan population was already celebrating the nativity of the Sun God, the church moved the spring birth of Jesus near to the winter solstice. Getner, who cited a growing understanding of Wicca in the contemporary Christian community, said she took comfort in reflecting that, in the darkness of the winter and our times, both faiths find hope in celebrating the birth of the Light of the World.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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