PAGAN ORIGINS OF EVERYDAY THINGS
This will be along one so strap in.
A TON of what we use everyday and just have around the house or do everyday that you may not know actually have pagan origins or that had pre-christian origins.
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Birthdays
Celebrating birthdays, even that of Jesus himself, was uncommon among early Christians. What eventually became Christmas, the Roman festival Saturnalia, was originally celebrated around the winter solstice.
Major events in nature, such as a birth or a solstice, were thought to bring out spirits - and it was critical to keep evil spirits at a distance. Many pagans lit candles to deter bad spirits and protect themselves from the darkness. Due to superstitions about evil spirits attacking unaware children on their birthdays, Germanic groups placed candles on a cake: one candle for each year since birth, and an additional one for another healthy year of life.
Wedding Rings
According to religious scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi, "the meaning of the wedding ring as a symbol of marital commitment finds its origins not in Scripture, but in pagan mythology and superstitions."
This may pair with a Roman and Greek belief that the fourth finger (or third, if you don't count the thumb) was the so-called "medicated finger," a digit that had a vein leading directly to the heart. Putting a ring on that finger became a demonstration of unending commitment and love.
Still another theory is that wedding rings trace back to the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom in Egypt, when rings were exchanged to indicate a binding agreement between two parties.
Knocking on Wood
Knocking on wood to keep bad luck away - also referred to as "touching wood" - is also thought to have ties to pagan culture. Celts had strong ties to nature and believed there were spirits in trees. To knock on a tree and invoke the spirit residing within brought about healing and protection.
Another possible purpose of knocking on wood was to show respect and thanks to the spirits in trees. One more theory is that knocking on wood sent evil spirits away or created noise to keep evil spirits from overhearing the plans, thoughts, and wishes of humans.
Jewelry
Necklaces, bracelets, amulets, and other jewelry were all worn by pagan cultures to decorate the body. This was done for practical purposes and to demonstrate wealth. Viking men, for example, wore elaborate jewelry to indicate their social position. Women, too, adorned themselves in gold and silver. Brooches, rings, torcs, and pins were also common, sometimes featuring symbols in honor of gods like Thor and Odin.
Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans commonly wore jewelry with spiritual symbols. In Egypt, jewelry was buried alongside human remains for the journey to the afterlife. Amulets with heart-scarabs, the two fingers of Horus, and serpent heads have all been found in burial sites, indicating their purpose of protection in the next world.
In the Roman republic, gold rings indicated political importance and were reserved for senators and nobles. When Hannibal defeated the Romans, he was said to have "sent to Carthage, as proof of his victory, three pecks [six dry gallons] of gold rings that he had pulled from the hands of the slain Roman knights and senators."
Cats
Keeping animals as familiars, or creatures that foster and even heighten spiritual and supernatural powers, has been practiced since antiquity. Cats, dogs, toads, and other small animals were thought to be inhabited by fairies and other spiritual creatures, making them a link between humans and the supernatural world. After the development and spread of Christianity, cats were especially associated with pagans, Satan, witches, the afterlife, and bad omens.
Within pagan culture, keeping cats was all about maintaining a connection with nature. In some pagan rituals, individuals even dressed like familiars and wore animal masks. From the outside, however, this tradition of keeping cats came to be seen as a way non-Christians could change shapes, spy, and generally cause trouble.
Flower Crowns
You’re most likely to see flower crowns at Coachella these days, but in ancient Greece, they helped bring worshippers closer to specific deities.
Different plants were associated with different gods, so wearing a specific kind of flower wreath would help bring you favor with a specific deity. For example, Zeus was associated with oak, while Aphrodite was associated with myrtle.
Bridesmaids
In ancient times, bridesmaids wore identical dresses and veils to that of the bride–so at least you didn’t have to worry about a tacky bridesmaid’s dress. But all this matchiness had a purpose, and that purpose was to trick evil spirits into attacking a bridesmaid instead of the bride herself.
Groundhog Day
not technically pagan but bear with me here… Divination?
According to the laws of Groundhog Day, if the groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd, that means we’re in for another six weeks of winter. Obviously this is done in jest, but what else would you describe this process as other than a form of divination? Something fun to think about. It's not ACTUALLY pagan but it's fun.
Nike
The goddess Nike was worshipped in ancient Greece as the goddess of victory. She would often be worshipped after a successful military win. So, it makes sense why the company would use her name to promote their brand.
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