The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #87247 Message #1627385
Posted By: CapriUni
14-Dec-05 - 03:30 PM
Thread Name: Winter Solstice Play/Pageant
Subject: RE: Winter Solstice Play/Pageant
You may want to check out Native American myths for retelling, such as the myth of how Raven stole the sun from the Sky God (I did a quick search of Google for this, but though I found numerous references to it, I have yet to find the myth itself). You might also try retelling more well-known (to a mainstream American audience, anyway) appropriate Greek or Roman myths, such as the one about Demeter and Kore (aka Perephone), or a story about how the God Saturn returns to Earth every year at Saturnalia (which is today, btw).
Also, as an aside, Phyllis Siefker makes a very strong argument for the pre-Christian origins of Santa Claus, in her book Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men: The Origins and Evolution of Saint Nicholas, Spanning 50,000 Years (McFarland & Company, 1997). Hint: The European Winter Gift-giver has been nicknamed "Nicholas" and "Claus" far longer than he's been called "Saint" Nick.
I know I should not even acknowledge GUEST's existance, but I'm a Neo-Pagan and a teetotaler. Just saying.