Pagan Pride

Pagan Pride is a movement among the American Pagans to build a positive public image of Paganism. Local Pagan Pride groups sponsor "Pagan Pride Day" festivals, usually in public locations such as city parks or university campuses. The first recorded reference to "Pagan Pride" can be traced to 1992.^[1]

The Pagan Pride Project

The Pagan Pride Project is a non-profit organization whose aims are to promote understanding of Paganism, support various charities and bring Pagan communities closer together. The project's logo shows various Pagan symbols encircling the Earth—the yin/yang symbol, Celtic cross, Mjöllnir, a Triple Goddess symbol, an Eye of Horus, Venus of Willendorf, ankh, pentagram, triskelion, Stone Megalith, Green Man, Enneagram, and the Kabbalistic Tree of life.

Pagan Pride Day

Pagan Pride Day is an annual event held in a variety of locations across the world.^[2] The festivities are as varied as the communities which organize them. Some events are as simple as an open picnic or cook-out held in a local park. Some events are full-fledged festivals which rent venues with performance stages and food facilities. There are, however, several common elements.

First and foremost is the goal of educating the public about the beliefs and practices of various Neopagan traditions. The general public is invited and there are usually tables of reading materials, staffed by members of a range of Neopagan denominations. Speakers may focus on dispelling common misconceptions about Neopaganism, or they may seek to educate outsiders about the details of their particular beliefs and practices.

The second most common aspect is charitable work. Many Pagan Pride coordinating committees choose a local charity to support with fundraising and/or donations raised by the event. These charities might be organizations related to environmental conservation, animal rescues, food pantries, shelters for victims of domestic violence or other causes.

Pagan Pride Day events are usually welcoming to families and children. There are rules regarding what can and cannot occur at such events to this end.^[3]

Many Pagan Pride festivals showcase local Neopagan performers, artisans and merchants. Some events offer open mike sessions where attendees can take a turn chanting, telling jokes, spinning tales, drumming, or reading poetry.^[4]

References

1. "The History of the Pagan Pride Project". Retrieved 6 February 2012.
2. "The Pagan Pride Project; Where We Are". Retrieved 6 February 2012.
3. "Pagan Pride Project; Event Policies". Retrieved 6 February 2012.
4. "Pagan Pride Project; What Happens at an Event?". Retrieved 6 February 2012.

External links

• Pagan Pride Project
• Houston Pagan Pride Day
• Kansas City Pagan Pride Day
• Italian Pagan Pride Day
• Los Angeles Pagan Pride
• Central New York Pagan Pride
• New York City Pagan Pride
• Chicago Pagan Pride
• San Francisco Bay Area Pagan Pride
• Sacramento Pagan Pride
• Phoenix Pagan Pride
• San Diego Pagan Pride Day
• Louisville KY Pagan Pride
• Nashville TN Pagan Pride
• New Orleans Pagan Pride
• Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day
• Savannah GA Pagan Pride Day
• San Antonio TX Pagan Pride Day
• Salt Lake City Pagan Pride
• Central New Jersey Pagan Pride
• Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day
• Nanaimo Pagan Pride Day
• Pagan Pride Raleigh
• Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day
• Roanoke Pagan Pride Day

News coverage

• 200 gather in South Park for Pagan Pride Day - Post-Gazette coverage of event in Pittsburgh, PA
• Pagan pride day - Minneapolis / St. Paul event
• Savannah, GA Pagan Pride Day Pagan Pride in Savannah, GA
• Nanaimo BC, Canada Event
• Nanaimo BC, Canada Event
• Nanaimo BC, Canada Event
• Kansas City Pagan Pride Day 2013 Event