For pagan nurses, is "Happy solstice" the right expression?

Nurses Spirituality

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Winter solstice is approaching. I am aware of this just yesterday while shopping at Trader Joe's. The store employees greeted me with "happy holidays". I responded with "thank you".

Since I am not a Christian and no longer want to deal with Christmas, I want to say "Happy solstice" in response. I do think this is appropriate since December is technically an astronomical phenomenon marking the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. It is simply a celebration of seasonal change and has nothing to do with the deity that I don't worship or believe in.

Having said that, I want to learn from pagan nurses here.

Do you say that to your patients and how do they respond?

Thank you

So, because you inferred that some people were upset you have decided to basically poke everyone who wishes you a Merry Christmas, regardless of intent, in the eye just to make a point. Do you even see the irony in that?

No, I don't. I try to be aware of geography. If I happen to live in a town with Christian majority, I will not waste my time trying to correct people. It is their tradition. Since they are the majority, it is normal to assume I share their Christian values.

Where I am living at is not a Bible belt. Seasonal celebration is inclusive. I don't remember hearing people wish me a merry christmas since I moved to my new place. They don't even wish me "chúc mừng năm mới" before they ask if I celebrate lunar new year.

I guess that's why I have that reaction when someone wishes me merry christmas.

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I'm sorry, but that is possibly one of the silliest and also nastiest things said so far on this thread.

Atheists do not have a "war on christmas". This is nonsense propagated by the media like Fox news. I have heard EVERY president in my lifetime wish people a merry Christmas. It is only the clown who is the current president who said "now we can say merry Christmas again".

I stated earlier in this thread that I as an atheist wish people merry Christmas so please stick to the truth and do not let your prejudices get in the way.I

Edited to add, Carrie did not say there was a war on christmas, she said "the SO CALLED war on christmas".

I will agree with you that Christians start with this "war on christmas" nonsense because they hear non Christians say "happy holidays". I said it was a political war between atheists and Christians because I saw atheists write articles that counteract this Christian persecution mindset. I don't see any non Christian religious group do that. I think engaging in the holiday greeting is the reason the "war" keeps going on.

I respond to "merry christmas" with "happy holidays" with some people and "happy solstice" with certain individuals. It is my way to tell the other person that I appreciate the sentiment but I don't celebrate the birth of Jesus.

I don't have prejudices against atheists. I actually like them.

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This is a nursing forum. While I don't disagree with you, you are not saying anything that has anything to do with our profession. Have a happy holiday season.

Actually I asked the question based on one experience I had several years ago with this nurse. I was bit by a dog at work. I went to the ER, got registered, and checked in. The clerk asked me "what religion are you?". I thought for a few seconds and said Buddhism since it was my family's religion. It was about 2 weeks before christmas.

The nurse who gave me treatment wished me "merry christmas". I answered, "Thank you. I am not a Christian. If you checked my chart, you can see what religion I am."

The nurse said, "I'm sorry. I saw what was written. I assume that since you are not an atheist you would be all right with christmas. I believe that everyone needs Jesus."

I did not want to confront her about her assumption, but I felt like I had to speak up for myself. Hence, I responded, "If that's the case, I wish you a happy winter solstice. Keep yourself warm."

She thanked me and then excused herself.

I thought that I was civil in that conversation. With other people, I only have time to respond "happy solstice". If they are culturally sensitive, they would know the implication under my response.

Interestingly, a different nurse discharged me and said "Jesus bless you". I did not make a big a deal about it because she simply discharged me. Perhaps she did not check my religious background. I simply thanked her and headed to the exit.

It will be nice if Christians try not to make an assumption that everyone else falls under their religious umbrella.

When I raise the OP question, I can guess most pagan nurses will not say "blessed be" to their patients.

Pagan nurses here, can you enlighten me a bit?

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Specializes in Chaplaincy to Nursing.

Wiccan here.

I think the greeting is more for the edification of the recipient than anything. So, I use merry Christmas if I know a person is Christian, Happy Hanukkah if Jewish, Happy Yule if Pagan... etc. I use Happy Holidays if I don't know their faith.

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On 10/18/2020 at 12:58 PM, GreenMagus87 said:

Wiccan here.

I think the greeting is more for the edification of the recipient than anything. So, I use merry Christmas if I know a person is Christian, Happy Hanukkah if Jewish, Happy Yule if Pagan... etc. I use Happy Holidays if I don't know their faith.

You are very respectful. Many Christians nowadays cry wolf over this issue.

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

Atheist point of view here, coming rather late to this thread.

I don't get uptight about people wishing me Merry Christmas since in our society it's all around us. People in normal jobs will have time off work, kids in non-Christian households will be getting presents (and that includes the kids of some Muslim, Hindu and Jewish colleagues) and most people will be partying. I'm staunchly anti-religious but I won't no say no to Christmas drink and a good dinner, so if somebody wishes me a good one that's fine. Sad for the devout Christians here, but the reality is that Christmas today is largely a general knees up, a party, a great excuse for capitalists to make money and for most people it's not about religion, hypocritical as that may be. I used to do the "not a hypocrite, not participating, born again atheist" routine but as I've got older, I realise that just had "Miserable T**t" written all over it (my censoring) so now I join in and have a drink .

My muslim colleague brings in tons of her beautiful home-cooked African food to share with her night colleagues as she breaks her fast (it's Ramadan). I'm not a muslim but I'm not offended, I gratefully accept her delicious home-cooked food. She doesn't expect me to pray with her or even be interested in her religion - she's just being nice.

I don't go out of my way wish happy this or that to anyone. If someone mentions they're planning a family party for Diwali I'll say have a good one, but  I'm sure the average Hindu doesn't even expect me to know when  it falls. Each to  their own, I believe religion is a personal thing. 

I get uptight at anybody trying to preach or convert. I've had Christians patronisingly tell me I'm a Christian and I just don't know it - those types get told very forcfeully to put a sock in it.  But a casual Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Nah, why get hot and bothered about it. 

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I myself lean to the teachings of Buddha.  Did you know Buddhists have their own holiday on December 8th?  It's called, "Bodhi Day" and celebrates the day Buddha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.  Heart shaped cookies are served near either evergreen trees or Bodhi fig trees decorated with small multicolored lights.  See.  Evergreen trees covered in little colorful lights does not always mean Christmas.  However, many Buddhists do observe Christmas but do not see Jesus as the Messiah.  I will stop there.

I personally would LOVE it if someone said Happy Solstice to me.  I adore the diversity of human beings. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Well, the Summer solstice is coming up in a few weeks, so Happy Solstice then!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

If you wanted to be more specific, Summer Solstice is often referred to as Midsummer or Litha.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
18 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

If you wanted to be more specific, Summer Solstice is often referred to as Midsummer or Litha.

Plus there are many different types of pagans and while all tend to recognize the soltices there are many other important feasts and celebrations throughout the year.

Hppy

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
On 6/3/2021 at 1:02 PM, hppygr8ful said:

Plus there are many different types of pagans and while all tend to recognize the soltices there are many other important feasts and celebrations throughout the year.

Hppy

Excellent point. I was associated with a Hellenic pagan group for a few years with a completely different calendar. 

The solstices always remind me of the first pagan group I belonged to in the early 90s, we always tried to have these all-night vigils/celebrations/rituals for the Winter and Summer solstices where we would stay up all night until sunrise, and darned if I wasn't the only one who could stay up all night! I later found a love of night shift when I went into healthcare, go figure. Haha. ?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 6/11/2021 at 8:20 PM, Pixie.RN said:

Excellent point. I was associated with a Hellenic pagan group for a few years with a completely different calendar. 

The solstices always remind me of the first pagan group I belonged to in the early 90s, we always tried to have these all-night vigils/celebrations/rituals for the Winter and Summer solstices where we would stay up all night until sunrise, and darned if I wasn't the only one who could stay up all night! I later found a love of night shift when I went into healthcare, go figure. Haha. ?

On the subject of Soltices the Summer Soltice is coming on June 20 th. This marks the approximate 1 st third of the growing season. Crops have been planted and are well on their way to Midsommer which is a time for fertility rights as well as the title to a really odd creepy movie. In older nomadic and pagan cultures midsommer or Mid Summer was the traditional time for Summer meetings, where people would travel on foot to a designated meeting place to trade, tell stories, engage in courtship and Summer matrimonials. These are best described in the Earth's Children Series by Jean Auel. These are fictional works with lots of theoretical information about how early cultures on the European Continent lived.  These early cultures were mostly hunter gatherers and the journey to and from the Summer meeting place was a chance to gather food and goods not readily avaiable in their home ranges, It also formed an opportunity to gather memories to sustain through the long Winter ahead. 

Any thoughts to share. 

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