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Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide
An examination of the sacred botany and the pagan origins and rituals of Christmas
• Analyzes the symbolism of the many plants associated with Christmas
• Reveals the shamanic rituals that are at the heart of the Christmas celebration
The day on which many commemorate the birth of Christ has its origins in pagan rituals that center on tree worship, agriculture, magic, and social exchange. But Christmas is no ordinary folk observance. It is an evolving feast that over the centuries has absorbed elements from cultures all over the world--practices that give plants and plant spirits pride of place. In fact, the symbolic use of plants at Christmas effectively transforms the modern-day living room into a place of shamanic ritual.
Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling show how the ancient meaning of the botanical elements of Christmas provides a unique view of the religion that existed in Europe before the introduction of Christianity. The fir tree was originally revered as the sacred World Tree in northern Europe. When the church was unable to drive the tree cult out of people’s consciousness, it incorporated the fir tree by dedicating it to the Christ child. Father Christmas in his red-and-white suit, who flies through the sky in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, has his mythological roots in the shamanic reindeer-herding tribes of arctic Europe and Siberia. These northern shamans used the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom, which is red and white, to make their soul flights to the other world. Apples, which figure heavily in Christmas baking, are symbols of the sun god Apollo, so they find a natural place at winter solstice celebrations of the return of the sun. In fact, the authors contend that the emphasis of Christmas on green plants and the promise of the return of life in the dead of winter is just an adaptation of the pagan winter solstice celebration.
• Analyzes the symbolism of the many plants associated with Christmas
• Reveals the shamanic rituals that are at the heart of the Christmas celebration
The day on which many commemorate the birth of Christ has its origins in pagan rituals that center on tree worship, agriculture, magic, and social exchange. But Christmas is no ordinary folk observance. It is an evolving feast that over the centuries has absorbed elements from cultures all over the world--practices that give plants and plant spirits pride of place. In fact, the symbolic use of plants at Christmas effectively transforms the modern-day living room into a place of shamanic ritual.
Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling show how the ancient meaning of the botanical elements of Christmas provides a unique view of the religion that existed in Europe before the introduction of Christianity. The fir tree was originally revered as the sacred World Tree in northern Europe. When the church was unable to drive the tree cult out of people’s consciousness, it incorporated the fir tree by dedicating it to the Christ child. Father Christmas in his red-and-white suit, who flies through the sky in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, has his mythological roots in the shamanic reindeer-herding tribes of arctic Europe and Siberia. These northern shamans used the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom, which is red and white, to make their soul flights to the other world. Apples, which figure heavily in Christmas baking, are symbols of the sun god Apollo, so they find a natural place at winter solstice celebrations of the return of the sun. In fact, the authors contend that the emphasis of Christmas on green plants and the promise of the return of life in the dead of winter is just an adaptation of the pagan winter solstice celebration.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 23, 2021
Reserved from the library in November, this finally arrived this week.
This felt like it could have been a really interesting book, lots of research and photographs of illustrations and artifacts. I am fascinated by customs, I love Christmas despite having no religious beliefs and I find it particularly fascinating how many Christmas customs predate Christ's birth!
This book seemed to go off-piste with it's mission and get sidetracked with fly agarics and and 70s style topless women. Surely the main point of a Pagan Christmas should be the facts around this midwinter celebration before it was converted to Christianity? I have read several books on the subject and find the similarities striking, I was particularly surprised that the nativity scene in history predates the events we associate it with now. There is a very interesting episode of QI on this subject.
Some interesting facts and illustrations but some seemed too farfetched. Was there really a Father Baccy?
This felt like it could have been a really interesting book, lots of research and photographs of illustrations and artifacts. I am fascinated by customs, I love Christmas despite having no religious beliefs and I find it particularly fascinating how many Christmas customs predate Christ's birth!
This book seemed to go off-piste with it's mission and get sidetracked with fly agarics and and 70s style topless women. Surely the main point of a Pagan Christmas should be the facts around this midwinter celebration before it was converted to Christianity? I have read several books on the subject and find the similarities striking, I was particularly surprised that the nativity scene in history predates the events we associate it with now. There is a very interesting episode of QI on this subject.
Some interesting facts and illustrations but some seemed too farfetched. Was there really a Father Baccy?
December 12, 2009
This book looks back at history and explains the origins of some of our modern-day Christmas traditions: the Christmas tree, the colors red and white, various common decorations, St. Nicholas (and his cousins Father Christmas and Sinterklaas among others) and various festivals held over the centuries around the world that coincide with Christmas. The idea that Santa's reindeer fly because they're high on magic mushrooms made me giggle a bit, I must admit!
There was a lot of new information in here that I hadn't come across before--probably because the authors are German and a lot of these traditions were things I wasn't familiar with--but unfortunately the book was not very well organized, got repetitive at times (possibly because there were two authors? I don't know...) and was not easy to navigate. I enjoyed reading about some of these things--including the bits about "Baccy Claus: the smoking Christmas man" with various 'baccy recipes! LOL This isn't a book I want to make room for as a permanent reference, however, as it just isn't very user friendly, however much interesting stuff it might contain.
There was a lot of new information in here that I hadn't come across before--probably because the authors are German and a lot of these traditions were things I wasn't familiar with--but unfortunately the book was not very well organized, got repetitive at times (possibly because there were two authors? I don't know...) and was not easy to navigate. I enjoyed reading about some of these things--including the bits about "Baccy Claus: the smoking Christmas man" with various 'baccy recipes! LOL This isn't a book I want to make room for as a permanent reference, however, as it just isn't very user friendly, however much interesting stuff it might contain.
February 18, 2021
Oh this was fantastic if you want to know where Christmas traditions come from!
Learn where Pre-Christian Holiday belief's came from.
What decorating a tree meant?
What were the gifts of the Wisemen?
Why the Greens?
Why the Spices?
What about the New Year?
What about Winter Solstice?
What about Red and White?
Santa who?
Includes Incense Recipes, histories of each tradition, baking tips and decorating ideas, this is a great explanation!
Learn where Pre-Christian Holiday belief's came from.
What decorating a tree meant?
What were the gifts of the Wisemen?
Why the Greens?
Why the Spices?
What about the New Year?
What about Winter Solstice?
What about Red and White?
Santa who?
Includes Incense Recipes, histories of each tradition, baking tips and decorating ideas, this is a great explanation!
January 20, 2023
Lots of good information on the origins of some of our holiday traditions.
October 6, 2020
Not quite as I expected, lots about the plants used at Christmas, I was expecting to read about the traditions that have their roots in pre Christian times. I found the bizarre descriptions of santa smoking waccy baccy and the focus on hallucinogenic mushrooms quite odd but each to their own!
January 13, 2024
A STUDY OF THE ‘ETHNOBOTANY OF CHRISTMAS’—TREES, WREATHS, HOLLY/IVY, ETC.
Co-author Claudia Müller-Ebeling wrote in the Preface to this 2003 book, “This book is about the ethnobotany of Christmas---a study of Christmas plants and their symbolic uses and meanings throughout the centuries… it is easy to see that plants contribute much to this feast season. During the dark time of Advent, we especially appreciate having a green fir tree and blooming plants in the house, such as poinsettia and Christmas cactus. We hang mistletoe and decorate our houses with wreaths made from fir, ivy, and holly. For roasts and baking, we use exotic spices from trees, shrubs, and plants of tropical regions… Christmas is the most culturally pervasive and successful feast of all time. But what is behind our treasured Christmas traditions and customs? Why do green fir branches, flowers that bloom in the middle of the winter… still play such a central role in Christmas celebrations around the world? What are the symbolic meanings behind the use of these plants, and how have the old customs survived into the present computer age?... The symbolic meanings of these plants have roots in the distant past, when our ancestors were more intimately connected with the passage of the seasons. They were much more dependent than contemporary city people on the return of the sun and the plants after the long, dark winter nights… some modern people many choose to ignore or reject the history within which our well-known Christmas customs are rooted. Some react with interest… others feel that the historical sources contradict their religious beliefs or are otherwise irrelevant to our current Christmas customs. We can either profit from the traditions… or we can ignore, refute, or fight them. We have the freedom to choose.”
Co-author Christian Ratsch wrote in the Preface, “Christmas is part of the cultural heritage of the world, a global syncretism, a global potpourri and conglomeration of elements that manifests itself … in the uses of flora from all over the world… Our Christmas ethnobotany explores the use of plants from all over the world that have become and remain a central part of the global Christmas ritual…. At Christmastime, the middle-class living room becomes the setting for shamanic rituals with deep roots in ancient traditions. Thus this book is not only about Christmas plants and customs, but also about the origins and historical background of the traditions that continue to inspire us and delight our senses.”
They add in the first chapter, “In this book we will explore the symbolic meanings behind Christmas and the triumphant spread of Christmas ethnobotany---including Christmas greens and blossoms, the Christmas tree, and plants used for Christmas incense, the shamanic and pagan roots of Christmas customs many of us take for granted, including the origins of Santa Claus’s traditional red and white garb and his yearly flight through the winter night sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.” (Pg. 2)
They ask, “How on Earth did the pagan world become christened by the church as a Christmas tree? From Dorthea Forsther, choir woman of the Benedictines… we learn: ‘the pagan origin of … the Christmas tree is a not well-known fact…. Especially during the raw nights between December 25 and January 6, when evil spirits were feared most, green branches were hung, candles lit---and all these things were used as a means of defense. Later on, the TREES themselves were used for the same purpose… The church retained these old customs, and gave them a new meaning as a symbol of Christ: the true tree of life and light of the world.” (Pg. 20)
They note, “the Neoplatonic Church father Augustine, came to a new conclusion about the cutting of the holy trees of the heathens. He declared: ‘Do not kill the heathens---just convert them; do not cut their holy trees---consecrate them to Jesus Christ.’” (Pg. 25)
They explain, “The sight of the swastika is utterly appalling to most Americans and Europeans… But this symbol has been known since prehistoric times in practically all cultures. It represents the wheel of life, the sun and the course of the Earth around it, the four seasons, the cyclical nature of existence, and five elements, shamanic power, and the pre-Lamaistic Bon religion of Tibet… The swastika is the holy cross of Kali… The swastika is also dedicated to the snake gods and the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha.” (Pg. 81)
They point out, “In Austria, the people placed mistletoe in the bedroom to help encourage the conception of a child. In… Switzerland, mistletoe in the bridal bouquet meant a good marriage. In Wales, folk healers made a remedy from dried mistletoe to prevent infertility… The familiar custom that allows a boy to kiss any girl standing beneath the mistletoe further demonstrates the long-standing association of mistletoe with fertility.” (Pg. 92)
They assert, “the image of … Mary holding the baby Jesus… has found expression in countless examples in European art. This depiction of mother and child is not merely a sentimental evocation of motherhood, nor did it originate with the birth of Christ. It actually began with Egyptian pictures of Isis and the Horus child, giving us yet another example of the mysteriously subtle interweaving of religious iconography and meaning in art from diverse cultures.” (Pg. 151)
They report, “Who were the three kings?... Depending on the source and Bible translation, the three are variously called ‘kings,’ ‘wise men,’ or heathen ‘magi.’ … The Church father Tertullian (circa 160-225) was the first to call the three magi ‘kings.’ In his verdict, astrology was invented by fallen angels and wise men from the east were astrologers… From the severe perspective of the Church, this carried a touch of heathenism and explains the restraint of the Church with regard to worshipping the three magi.” (Pg. 181-182)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying the historical background of our Christmas customs and traditions.
Co-author Claudia Müller-Ebeling wrote in the Preface to this 2003 book, “This book is about the ethnobotany of Christmas---a study of Christmas plants and their symbolic uses and meanings throughout the centuries… it is easy to see that plants contribute much to this feast season. During the dark time of Advent, we especially appreciate having a green fir tree and blooming plants in the house, such as poinsettia and Christmas cactus. We hang mistletoe and decorate our houses with wreaths made from fir, ivy, and holly. For roasts and baking, we use exotic spices from trees, shrubs, and plants of tropical regions… Christmas is the most culturally pervasive and successful feast of all time. But what is behind our treasured Christmas traditions and customs? Why do green fir branches, flowers that bloom in the middle of the winter… still play such a central role in Christmas celebrations around the world? What are the symbolic meanings behind the use of these plants, and how have the old customs survived into the present computer age?... The symbolic meanings of these plants have roots in the distant past, when our ancestors were more intimately connected with the passage of the seasons. They were much more dependent than contemporary city people on the return of the sun and the plants after the long, dark winter nights… some modern people many choose to ignore or reject the history within which our well-known Christmas customs are rooted. Some react with interest… others feel that the historical sources contradict their religious beliefs or are otherwise irrelevant to our current Christmas customs. We can either profit from the traditions… or we can ignore, refute, or fight them. We have the freedom to choose.”
Co-author Christian Ratsch wrote in the Preface, “Christmas is part of the cultural heritage of the world, a global syncretism, a global potpourri and conglomeration of elements that manifests itself … in the uses of flora from all over the world… Our Christmas ethnobotany explores the use of plants from all over the world that have become and remain a central part of the global Christmas ritual…. At Christmastime, the middle-class living room becomes the setting for shamanic rituals with deep roots in ancient traditions. Thus this book is not only about Christmas plants and customs, but also about the origins and historical background of the traditions that continue to inspire us and delight our senses.”
They add in the first chapter, “In this book we will explore the symbolic meanings behind Christmas and the triumphant spread of Christmas ethnobotany---including Christmas greens and blossoms, the Christmas tree, and plants used for Christmas incense, the shamanic and pagan roots of Christmas customs many of us take for granted, including the origins of Santa Claus’s traditional red and white garb and his yearly flight through the winter night sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.” (Pg. 2)
They ask, “How on Earth did the pagan world become christened by the church as a Christmas tree? From Dorthea Forsther, choir woman of the Benedictines… we learn: ‘the pagan origin of … the Christmas tree is a not well-known fact…. Especially during the raw nights between December 25 and January 6, when evil spirits were feared most, green branches were hung, candles lit---and all these things were used as a means of defense. Later on, the TREES themselves were used for the same purpose… The church retained these old customs, and gave them a new meaning as a symbol of Christ: the true tree of life and light of the world.” (Pg. 20)
They note, “the Neoplatonic Church father Augustine, came to a new conclusion about the cutting of the holy trees of the heathens. He declared: ‘Do not kill the heathens---just convert them; do not cut their holy trees---consecrate them to Jesus Christ.’” (Pg. 25)
They explain, “The sight of the swastika is utterly appalling to most Americans and Europeans… But this symbol has been known since prehistoric times in practically all cultures. It represents the wheel of life, the sun and the course of the Earth around it, the four seasons, the cyclical nature of existence, and five elements, shamanic power, and the pre-Lamaistic Bon religion of Tibet… The swastika is the holy cross of Kali… The swastika is also dedicated to the snake gods and the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha.” (Pg. 81)
They point out, “In Austria, the people placed mistletoe in the bedroom to help encourage the conception of a child. In… Switzerland, mistletoe in the bridal bouquet meant a good marriage. In Wales, folk healers made a remedy from dried mistletoe to prevent infertility… The familiar custom that allows a boy to kiss any girl standing beneath the mistletoe further demonstrates the long-standing association of mistletoe with fertility.” (Pg. 92)
They assert, “the image of … Mary holding the baby Jesus… has found expression in countless examples in European art. This depiction of mother and child is not merely a sentimental evocation of motherhood, nor did it originate with the birth of Christ. It actually began with Egyptian pictures of Isis and the Horus child, giving us yet another example of the mysteriously subtle interweaving of religious iconography and meaning in art from diverse cultures.” (Pg. 151)
They report, “Who were the three kings?... Depending on the source and Bible translation, the three are variously called ‘kings,’ ‘wise men,’ or heathen ‘magi.’ … The Church father Tertullian (circa 160-225) was the first to call the three magi ‘kings.’ In his verdict, astrology was invented by fallen angels and wise men from the east were astrologers… From the severe perspective of the Church, this carried a touch of heathenism and explains the restraint of the Church with regard to worshipping the three magi.” (Pg. 181-182)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying the historical background of our Christmas customs and traditions.
February 27, 2008
It wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it would be about Pagan traditions/rituals, but it is about plants used by Pagans/Christians alike. If you are into botany, you would probably really like this book.
October 17, 2008
It was an okay book.
I was expecting more, but it's still pretty informative.
It discusses plants and some rituals involving plants during the Christmas holidays that originate from paganism.
Easy to read.
I was expecting more, but it's still pretty informative.
It discusses plants and some rituals involving plants during the Christmas holidays that originate from paganism.
Easy to read.
December 26, 2009
This book should have been called "Hippie Degenerate Aryan Christmas." I wish I had not judged a book by it's cover. The pictures featured in "Pagan Christmas" are the only redeeming value of this extremely disappointing book. It surely did not put me in the "Christmas spirit."
April 15, 2019
A wonderful book to prepare for the holidays.
November 15, 2020
Very much a book about Christmas customs in Germany only, and I'm a bit skeptical about a lot of it. I have a German friend that I asked about a lot of the stuff in the book, and she'd never heard of much of it. And she's lived in Germany all her 61 year life and is a devout Catholic, so she should know this stuff. My guess is that the authors took a lot of liberties in order to sell books. Like the word "baccy" they kept repeating throughout the book. I don't know what it's supposed to be in Germany, but in English it's just a slang word for tobacco. All in all, this was a very bizarre book.
December 18, 2018
I’ve learned so much! While I originally thought this book would read more like a narrative into the myths and pagan customs of Christmas, it’s actually more like a textbook and was relatively dry. Nevertheless, I rated it 5 stars bc I have never heard of most of the traditions or their explanations! It includes descriptions of holy plants, incense, baking, spices, customs, and myths surrounding the winter months. I have learned so much about what Christmas originally was and have a newfound appreciation for the holiday as a nature-centric celebration.
January 11, 2022
Must read.
Talk about a perverted backdrop to what a load of good Christians and their families gather around each year whilst singing unbearable hymns - read this and learn about the, uh, gross sexual stuff of lore alongside our pal the amanita muscaria and many other pagan Christmas favourites that should be more out in the open year round to make life more tolerable, albeit, more twisted.
Talk about a perverted backdrop to what a load of good Christians and their families gather around each year whilst singing unbearable hymns - read this and learn about the, uh, gross sexual stuff of lore alongside our pal the amanita muscaria and many other pagan Christmas favourites that should be more out in the open year round to make life more tolerable, albeit, more twisted.
January 31, 2021
A botanical examination of the meanings and history of the plants that were and are used at Christmas, showing the long history of the holiday and the variety of ways people celebrate around the world.
January 1, 2022
3.75 stars, to be completely accurate. An interesting ethnobotantical analysis of Christmas traditions but very Germanocentric without enough explanation for non-German readers. The lack of context really detracted from the authors' analysis.
December 31, 2018
Mwy am y planhigion ond yn ddiddorol iawn. Wedi ei gyfieithu o'r Almaeneg ac yn canolbwyntio ar goelion y Sacsoniaid yn fwy na'r Celtiaid. Er hyn, mae pytiau difyr am y Derwyddon.
December 7, 2019
Enjoyable book especially if you like plants.
December 21, 2021
Not what I was expecting. Still had some good information though.
December 29, 2021
Excelente libro, lleno de informacion y muy ameno de leer
January 15, 2025
Some interesting facts and history, a portion of it feels very 2000s new agey with shoddy historical facts though.
December 29, 2024
This was my introduction to ethnobotany. It was a unique lens to look at my favorite holiday.
I did not appreciate how pagans made every flower and tree about fertility but very much appreciated learning about the “ones of the wood” like Frau Holle.
I did not appreciate how pagans made every flower and tree about fertility but very much appreciated learning about the “ones of the wood” like Frau Holle.
January 1, 2016
A slightly mis-leading book: It's less about Christmas/Yuletide/Solstice traditions (though there is plenty about that) than it is about Christmas PLANTS. Not as silly as it sounds: Christmas trees, mistletoe, plums, holly berries; there are lots of plants associated with our rituals (Christian AND pagan) from that time of year. But it helps going into this book if you have a a feel (and an ear) for botany to begin with. There is a wealth of information here, but unfortunately the little snippets often don't seem to flow from one another in a sensible manner -- it all feels kind of randomly assembled. This is a scholarly essay, translated from German -- and as such it probably comes across as a bit more dry than it did in its original language. So not quite what I hoped it to be, but if you're looking for an introduction to aspects of Christmas from around the world, you could do worse.
March 25, 2016
At first I thought this book would be about the pagan and folk traditions behind Christmas, historically and culturally. And those things are in there, but the real focus through which these traditions are viewed is through the plants associated with Christmas. This is a book on ethnobotany, but it is really quite fascinating. There are many color photos and illustrations throughout -- including quite a few whimsical portrayals of the fly agaric mushroom. I'm interested in herbalism, anthropology, symbolism, shamanism and entheogens, so I enjoyed it immensely. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, and it's definitely not for they lay neopagan who just wants a light book on Yule traditions.
November 8, 2016
All these "origins of" books need to be taken with a grain of salt. I've already read a bunch of these and in my opinion the general ideas are basically on the right track but the details are highly questionable. There's just such an overwhelming amount of information to compare that nobody's really managed to put together a totally convincing timeline for how these beliefs have evolved. It's an interesting and important topic though so I definitely recommend looking into this stuff a little bit. Everyone should at least have some understanding of where their culture's traditions come from and how other cultures relate to their own. Just keep in mind that this isn't exactly an ultimate authority on the subject.
December 15, 2015
While the primary focus of Pagan Christmas is on European holiday traditions and the plants associated with them, this book is nothing if not broad in scope. Food, ornamentation, incense, drinks, festivals, there's little related to Christmas (or its preceding practices), that isn't touched upon within these pages, in at least some capacity. While a little dense at times, Pagan Christmas is still a fascinating read which casts light on the origins of many holiday celebrations--as well as a look at how Christmas is celebrated in various parts of the world.
November 20, 2012
Whilst the premise was interesting, the book itself rapidly became quite boring. The subtitle is "The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals of Yuletide", however there was far too much of the first and not enough of the other two.
I will take two things away from reading this book. 1) The image of Santa Claus as an anthropomorphic fly agaric mushroom! and 2)Eating chocolate Santas as a form of ritual cannibalism!
I am NEVER going to be able to look at a shopping mall Santa in the same way again!
I will take two things away from reading this book. 1) The image of Santa Claus as an anthropomorphic fly agaric mushroom! and 2)Eating chocolate Santas as a form of ritual cannibalism!
I am NEVER going to be able to look at a shopping mall Santa in the same way again!
August 15, 2011
Now this is the type of book that I've long looked for that has information that I've long been fascinated with for Yule. Every plant and tree and the mythology, etymology, lore, traditions are beautifully written and illustrated. A must book if you're interested in unknown and unique pagan Yule lore.
January 2, 2011
This book is a little more choppy in its presentation, but it had some great recipe's in it for holiday incense and punch, as well as ideas for crafters. The author tried to please pagans and Christians alike, leaving everyone just a little dissatisfied, I'm thinking. Still, it is a book I plan to have in my library for future reference!
December 13, 2010
So far, so good.
January 10, 2011
An in-depth look at the pagan roots of Christmas traditions, such as the tree, mistletoe, etc. Very educational, sometimes a little dry, but pretty engrossing as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews