Werefoowolf |
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So, an illustration for Paizo's Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-06: Reaping What We Sow (a trio of jack-o-lanterns, 1 of which depicted the holy symbol of Shelyn, and another depicted the holy symbol of Lamashtu) got me thinking: What other deities (gods, demigods, w/e) might match up well to better known thematic holidays?
Lamashtu was chosen for Halloween presumably due to her being the "Mother of Monsters" (ya need monsters for Halloween) and Lamashan being the Golarion equivalent of October.
Looking into the breakdown for the scenario, apparently the scenario contains a Shelynite pumpkin-carving festival... Is that a thing? I'm unaware if that has relevance with Shelyn or not.
Kuthona is the Golarion-equivalent of December, but I don't believe matches well with Christmas. Is there a Good deity I'm not thinking of off the top of my head who concerns him/herself with gift-giving, or tree-decoration, or anything of that sort?
On top of that, I could see a Santa Claus analog since Bestiary 6 will contain the Krampus. Perhaps Santa would be a follower of either Alseta or Yuelral?
Archpaladin Zousha |
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I looked a little deeper. Shelyn's Crystalhue feels very Christmasy, what with it being celebrated during the winter solstice and there being gift-giving and making amends with people you may have wronged throughout the year.
EXACTLY. I actually wish the devs here a Merry Crystalhue every year! It even SOUNDS like "Christmas!"
Archpaladin Zousha |
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From what I can tell, usually they're an outsider like a unique angel or psychopomp in their deity's service. Note that there's only one or two that are referenced in the books themselves, like Saint Lyrimin in Iomedae's faith.
Tacticslion |
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Erastil. Gather 'round the hearth with your family and enjoy the pleasures of a shared community experience.
While others have made great points, and I agree that they are probably intentionally implied, Erastil is, by far, the best fit for Christmas-specific themes as a god.
Home, hearth and family - an appeal to your local community, harmony, and working together; good will, natural world (trees, holly {Druid holy symbol}, mistletoe, those red plants I don't recall now) alongside the civilized (tinsel, decorations, in the home, etc), doing acts of sacrificial charity for those loved and in your community as a whole. Grand meal times as a method of communal enjoyment, and family togetherness, and even going and finding the right tree for your home. Quiet lights around the tree, and the warmth of good company.
EDIT: even the idea of celebrating a Divine birth of humble origins - birth itself is Pharasma, but the idea of a deity or other celestially blessed creature entering the world for the sake of that world as the humble child of a carpenter and wife in a small, poor community oppressed by "the man" as it were, fits with Erasil's themes. Hmmm...
As a god of communal craftsman, even the traditional imagery of Santa Clause fits into Erastilian themes. Complete with elf gnome (sorry, something was apparently lost in translation) helpers and magic reindeer!
That said, if we're talking about modern Christmas: Abadar. No one really even knows when it happened (or, in most cases, even that it happened). See, Abadar was just trying to help, and he certainly likes the modern take, but, you know, Erastil is about ready to wash his hands of the whole thing... only the waning belief in him and his spirit of community keeps him invested anymore...
EDIT: (This is especially ironic, given that it is a church like Abadar's that would have put to death the upstart divinely-blessed child, if any, associated with such a day; perhaps it was Abadar's attempt to make up for this error that started his involvement...)
Now it's up to the PCs to rekindle the spirit of... oh you all know where this is going.