Many traditions that are associated with Christmas actually have their origins in Pagan celebrations around the winter solstice.
The Roman festival Saturnalia and the 12-day Norse observation of Yuletide involved familiar practices like decorating trees, hanging mistletoe, and exchanging gifts.
Toledo’s Pagans may still have lighted trees like they did growing up, and they’ll still talk about Santa Claus — but those traditions hold a different significance for them. Even if they still celebrate a secular version of Christmas, they are more so looking forward to the winter solstice, or Yule, which falls on Saturday, marking the shortest day of the year.
“For me, Yule, solstice, is more meaningful to me than Christmas,” said Kathy Karnes, an independent Pagan/Wiccan. “I hate winter and the darkness, and I love the solstice because every day after that is a couple more minutes of light.”
Karnes said many Pagans, including herself, are “refugees from different organized religions.” She grew up celebrating the Christian holiday and remembers making homemade Christmas decorations. Now, the Wiccan decorates her home altar by the seasons, and it currently features red and green accents and images of cardinals.