I have a feeling I am going to have to explain to my JW folks why I have decided to allow my children to participate in holidays at school. They’ll probably be wondering too why I will get together with our non jw family for the holidays.
We know JWs avoid holidays because of their pagan origins. I think a very strong argument would be to have a list of everything that is pagan that JWs still use or participate in.
So, can everyone help and list something with a reference to it?
1) Origins of the names and days of the week (http://www.therefinersfire.org/days_months1.htm)
Days of the week:
The First Day: Sunday was named after the Sun god.
The second Day: Monday was named after the moon goddess.
The Third Day: Tuesday was named after the god Tyr.
The Fourth Day: Wednesday was named after the god Odin.
The Fifth Day: Thursday was named after the god Thor.
The Sixth Day: Friday was named after the goddess Frigga.
The Seventh Day: Saturday was named after the god Saturn.
Months:
JANUARY:
Named for Janus, the Roman mighty one of portals and patron of beginnings and endings, to whom this month was sacred. He is shown as having two faces, one in front, the other at the back of his head, supposedly to symbolize his powers.
FEBRUARY:
This name is derived from Februa, a Roman festival of purification. It was originally the month of expiation.
MARCH:
It is named for Mars, the Roman mighty one of war.
APRIL:
This name comes from the Latin APRILIS, indicating a time of Fertility. It was believed that this month is the month when the earth was supposed to open up for the plants to grow.
MAY:
This month was named for Maia, the Roman female deity of growth or increase.
JUNE:
This name is sometimes attributed to June, the female mighty one of the marriage, the wife of Jupiter in Roman mythology. She was also called the "Queen of heaven" and " Queen of mighty ones." The name of this month is also attributed to Junius Brutus, but originally it most probably referred to the month in which crops grow to ripeness.
JULY:
Named for the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, this is the seventh month of the Gregorian year.
AUGUST:
Named for Octavius Augustus Caesar, emperor of Rome; the name was originally from augure, which means, "to increase."
SEPTEMBER:
This name is derived from the Latin septem, meaning "seven."
OCTOBER
This name comes from the Latin root octo, meaning "eight."
NOVEMBER:
This name is derived from Latin novem, meaning "ninth."
DECEMBER:
This name is derived from the Latin decem, meaning "ten."