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**END TRANSMISSION**

“It all started with a big bang!” No, not the theory explaining how everything came to be. I am referring to the CBS television sitcom, the “Big Bang Theory.”

The show is long over but is still aired in syndication. It chronicles the humorous goings-on of four young scientists. Have you ever watched the show?

My whole family gets a kick out of the “Big Bang Theory” (“BBT going forward.”) I particularly like it because the science speak reminds me of my cousin, Leon Lederman.

Leon was a real scientist, an experimental physicist (like the character Leonard in the show.)

Among other things, Leon discovered the Muon Neutrino, the neutrino beam method, and the bottom quark. In 1988, he was named a Nobel Laurette for physics.

Other terms occasionally spoken on the “BBT” are the Higgs Boson Particle and its nickname, the “God Particle.” Leon coined the nickname the “God Particle” and has a layperson’s science book with that phrase in the title, “The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is The Question?”

So now that we have established why I like the “BBT” television show, let’s discuss the characters. By far, my family’s favorite character is Sheldon Cooper. He is a super genius, but that extra genius comes with a dose of eccentricity and inflexibility that frequently gets in his way.

We love Sheldon so much that we named our golden doodle Sheldon.

Sheldon the dog reminds us a lot of Sheldon Cooper. On the show, Sheldon is very possessive of his spot on the couch. He scientifically chose it based on various factors, such as airflow, proximity to heat and the television, etc. Well, Sheldon the dog is the same way; he has his spot on the living room couch bumper. He gets mad and “nudges” people when they sit in his spot. It is a well-selected spot. Large enough to stretch out, with a window to look out, sun shining in for sun naps, and a perfect place to see most of the first floor (including the front door and dining room.)

Sheldon the dog also has other quirks along the lines of Sheldon Cooper. For example, he won’t eat his dog food if he can see the bottom of his bowl, and his water bowl cannot be next to his food bowl.

So, I hope the above has entertained you. But I guess by now, you are wondering what this has to do with anything. I’m getting there…

In one of the holiday episodes, Leonard and Penny decorate a Christmas tree. Although Sheldon had no interest in helping, he asked to hang his Isaac Newton ornament. During this exchange, Sheldon points out to Leonard and Penny that they are decorating a Saturnalia tree, not a Christmas tree.

Sheldon goes on to explain that the decorated tree originated from the Roman Pagan mid-winter festival of Saturnalia.

As with many other things, the growing Church “borrowed” or “adopted” numerous pagan holidays, sacred sites, deities (as saints), etc. Mid-winter festivals surrounding the winter solstice are no exception.

As Mélusine Draco states in his book “Have a Cool Yule: How-to Survive (and Enjoy) the Mid-Winter Festival,”

“This, these academic sources tell us, Winter Solstice or Mid-Winter Festival as our ancestors would have called it, is the most magical and mystical time of the year and should be celebrated as such with all the pagan gusto we can summon. It is an ancient fire festival that heralds the shortest day of the year; an astronomical turning of the tide to annouce the rebirth of the sun and the promise of warmth returning to the land.”

1

Many winter holiday traditions come from the Yule period, usually from December 25th to January 6th or December 24th to January 5th. I will not list them out here, as it is easy enough for you to Google. But I will provide one example. On December 19th, the Romans celebrated Sigillaria. This was a day to exchange presents.

However, I would like to tell you about the previously mentioned ancient Roman Festival of Saturnalia. What is known of it has been pieced together by people more intelligent than I.

Saturnalia was celebrated starting on December 17th and lasting some days that have not been definitively determined. Saturnalia consisted of role reversal. Slave servants became the aristocracy and vice versa. The regular everyday Romans became Senators and ran the government, and vice versa. Activities that were outlawed or frowned upon were allowed. There was much partying and drunkenness.

The craziest part of Saturnalia is that one person (I guess in an area) was chosen to be in complete charge of the Saturnalia lunacy. For their trouble, this person was sacrificed at the end of the festival. Crazy stuff!

Anyway, don’t forget that the Winter Solstice is next Wednesday, December 21st. Maybe give a moment’s thought to your ancestors, wherever they were and what possible Winter festival they may have celebrated.

I hope everyone has a great holiday, whichever one it may be that you celebrate!

Don’t Forget About My Upcoming Interview…

Paraic Donoghue - December 19th/20th

Paraic is a native Irish language speaker. He was raised on the Connemara Gaeltacht in County Galway, Ireland. Paraic is committed to the preservation and growth of the Irish language, along with the culture that is inextricably linked to it. He currently provides private Irish language lessons to students all over the world.

We will be discussing what it was like growing up and living on the Gaeltacht, his views on the Irish language and its importance, and the customs and traditions of his Gaeltacht that may have derived from the time of the Celts or earlier.

The interview will be published on my YouTube channel and Podcast approximately one-week post-interview.

Have a great weekend!

My name is Mike, and I am a skeptic and recovering accountant just starting to make my way through the world of the Druids, Celts, and Pagans.

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With a skeptical mind and an analytical eye,

Mike Guarneri

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