Santa Claus or Father Christmas” is a patriarchal version of what was originally an ancient Reindeer Goddess who was the original Santa Claus. Long before Santa flew his reindeer across the sky on Christmas Eve, an ancient female reindeer drew the sleigh of the Sun Goddess at the Winter Solstice. The Sun’s return was the Gift. The white-bearded North Polar man who brings gifts at Christmas is a stolen identity.From the British Isles, Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia, and across the land bridge of the Bering Strait, she was a revered spiritual figure associated with fertility, motherhood, regeneration and the rebirth of the sun -the theme of Winter Solstice.
She is known as Beaivi to the Sammi people of the North. She travels with her daughter Beaivi-nieda through the sky in a vehicle covered in reindeer bones. The Goddesses bringing green plants back in winter for the reindeer to eat.
GODDESS of DEPRESSION and MENTAL ILLNESS
Beivve the Sun Goddess was prayed to for people who were mentally ill or depressed. The Sami knew correctly that depression and even more serious mental illnesses originated from the lack of sunshine and light during the long dark of the winter. Beivve restores mental health to those who were going insane because of the continual darkness of the 6-month winter.
We should workship Beivve the Sun Goddess now to help prevent suicide and the familiar depression that occurs during the winter solstice when people get what we call in modern terms SAD seasonally affected disorder. This time of year in the NORTHERN Hemisphere is depressing and critical, there is much stress at Christmas.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
At Winter solstice butter was also smeared on doorposts as a sacrifice to Beivve, to help her gain strength as she was coming back to grow higher in the sky.
As a Feminist and pagan I would replace Santa Claus with this original Goddess mythology to restore balance an honor to the earth which so needs it right now.
Please share widely. Writing is based on these articles.
Happy SOLSTICE YULE CHRISTMAS
more info on Nordic Sun Goddess https://earthandstarryheaven.com/2015/11/11/sol-beiwe-saule/