Holidays v. Holy Days

[maenad nuri]

I'm thinking of celebrating The Heliogenna this year. One of the people on HellenicPagan came up with it as a new Hellenic festival, and it seems like a good one.  

[VisasMarr]

TeaDidikai

VisasMarr

In particular the Winter and Summer Solstices. I only acknowledge them now, I don't do anything out of the ordinary.

How do you acknowledge them?

I get up early (with the sun), and I stay awake for all the light hours (obviously in the winter this isn't hard razz ). I tend to take a walk in the wooded areas of the city (Edmonton has many beautiful parks). I usually have some sort of libation (last year [winter] I did three shots of almond liquer [yummy]). I also do a lot of reflection. The solstices are days I always do at least one tarot reading too. Other than that I go to work like normal (if I work), do all the normal things. So in general they are pretty regular days.  

[Pelta]

VisasMarr

TeaDidikai

VisasMarr

In particular the Winter and Summer Solstices. I only acknowledge them now, I don't do anything out of the ordinary.

How do you acknowledge them?

I get up early (with the sun), and I stay awake for all the light hours (obviously in the winter this isn't hard razz ). I tend to take a walk in the wooded areas of the city (Edmonton has many beautiful parks). I usually have some sort of libation (last year [winter] I did three shots of almond liquer [yummy]). I also do a lot of reflection. The solstices are days I always do at least one tarot reading too. Other than that I go to work like normal (if I work), do all the normal things. So in general they are pretty regular days.

When I was in San Francisco for the Solstice this summer I wandered through the park on my own in the brilliant sunshine. I gave a water libation to guardian trees and saw all sorts of naturey stuff. It was really great, though a tad lonely. I later went and sat with a whole bunch of random hippies on a hill and got serenaded by a stranger. Cool. He was a wannabe-Dylan who improvised musical poetry about my face being like magical sun/starshine. He was kinda cute too...  

[midara the happy banshee]

Nuri

I'm thinking of celebrating The Heliogenna this year. One of the people on HellenicPagan came up with it as a new Hellenic festival, and it seems like a good one.

This sounds wonderful. I've actually been thinking about honoring Helios this winter solstice. I wonder if there's a corresponding summer solstice celebration?  

[maenad nuri]

midara the happy banshee

Nuri

I'm thinking of celebrating The Heliogenna this year. One of the people on HellenicPagan came up with it as a new Hellenic festival, and it seems like a good one.

This sounds wonderful. I've actually been thinking about honoring Helios this winter solstice. I wonder if there's a corresponding summer solstice celebration?

If there is, Hector hasn't written it yet smile  

[catofsilence]

*blinks*
Isn’t every day holy? Aren’t they important steps on our journey of life?

Seriously, I don’t personally hold any day holy over another. I do how ever love to have a good time. I love Christmas because it is fun. I like Halloween because I get to look like a freak if I want and I can pass if off as just that time of year. Every day is wonderful in it’s way but the ones where you have having too much fun are even better.  

[TeaDidikai]

catofsilence

*blinks*
Isn’t every day holy?

To me? No.
I know it is popular amongst the neo-pagan scene to treat everything as sacred and holy- but the fact of the matter is that some days are more special than others.

These days spark and crackle with an energy that sets them apart.  

[TheDisreputableDog]

TeaDidikai

catofsilence

*blinks*
Isn’t every day holy?

To me? No.
I know it is popular amongst the neo-pagan scene to treat everything as sacred and holy- but the fact of the matter is that some days are more special than others.

These days spark and crackle with an energy that sets them apart.

I know Unitarian ministers are fond of instructing that every day is sacred, but I think that's more of a reminder that no day should be taken for granted rather than an affirmative "every day is holy." At least, that's how I take it--I wouldn't want to put words in their mouths. And if that's so, they're being sloppy, which bothers me, but I do appreciate the reminder.  

[TeaDidikai]

TheDisreputableDog

I know Unitarian ministers are fond of instructing that every day is sacred, but I think that's more of a reminder that no day should be taken for granted rather than an affirmative "every day is holy." At least, that's how I take it--I wouldn't want to put words in their mouths. And if that's so, they're being sloppy, which bothers me, but I do appreciate the reminder.

They are being sloppy.

Let's examine this for just a moment.

According to Merriam Webster-
Holy:
1 : exalted or worthy of complete devotion...


Sacred:
1 a : dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity...

Exalt:
1 : to raise in rank, power, or character

To set apart or exalt, there must be a baseline for to measure by. Without "normal" days, there cannot be "Holy Days".