Paganism isn’t just bonfires and mysterious rituals in the woods. In fact, it’s quietly embedded in our everyday lives – from holidays to habits we take for granted. Before the rise of dominant monotheistic religions, pagan traditions shaped the rhythm of life for countless cultures. And many of those customs are still with us today, even if we no longer recognize their roots. Here are 20 things you probably do all the time that come straight from the old gods.
1. Saying the Days of the Week
Ever wonder why Wednesday is called “Wednesday”? It comes from Woden’s Day – Woden being the Norse god Odin. Thursday? That’s Thor’s Day. Nearly every day of the week, except Sunday, is named after a pagan deity. Monday honors the moon goddess. Friday comes from Freya, Odin’s wife. Even Tuesday traces back to the war god Tyr. These names stuck around even as Christianity spread – because, well, old habits die hard.
2. Wearing Wedding Rings
Slipping a ring on someone’s finger to show love and commitment wasn’t originally a religious act – it was a pagan one. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed the fourth finger had a direct vein to the heart. Romans added their own symbolism. Over time, it became a binding symbol of love, but its origins were more mystical than marital.
3. Celebrating Birthdays with Cake and Candles
It might seem sweet and innocent now, but birthday cakes with candles were originally used to ward off evil spirits. In some ancient cultures, birthdays were thought to be spiritually risky, attracting negative energy. Lit candles were protective, not just decorative – and making a wish was a way of invoking spiritual favor.
4. Decorating for Christmas
Mistletoe, holly, ivy, and Yule logs weren’t part of the nativity story – they were part of winter solstice festivals. The original Yule celebration was a pagan ritual honoring the continuation of life during the darkest days of the year. When Christianity arrived, it simply layered new meanings on top of older customs.
5. Celebrating Easter
Bunnies and eggs don’t exactly scream resurrection, and that’s because they don’t come from that story. They come from Eostre, a spring goddess in Germanic tradition. She represented fertility, renewal, and longer days. The hare was her sacred animal, which is how the Easter Bunny hopped into modern culture.
6. Having Bridesmaids
You might think bridesmaids are just there for support and bachelorette parties, but originally they were decoys. Dressed like the bride, they helped confuse evil spirits who might try to harm her on her wedding day. In essence, they were spiritual body doubles – early pagan security detail.
7. Saying “Knock on Wood”
This little superstition hails from ancient tree-worshipping cultures, particularly the Celts. They believed spirits lived in trees, and knocking on wood was a way to summon their protection – or to avoid jinxing your good fortune. It was a form of divine insurance, and we still use it without thinking twice.
8. Keeping a Tooth for the Tooth Fairy
Long before coins were tucked under pillows, Norse and Viking warriors believed children’s teeth brought good luck in battle. Some even bought them to wear as charms. Over time, this morphed into the modern Tooth Fairy tradition – a magical being who pays children for their teeth, possibly with some Viking loot.
9. Crossing Your Fingers
Today we do it for luck or when telling a fib. But the act of crossing fingers traces back to pagan and early Christian customs. Some believed crossed fingers warded off evil spirits or misfortune. Others used them as secret signs when practicing banned religions. Either way, it’s an old gesture with deep symbolic roots.
10. Commemorating Valentine’s Day
Forget hearts and chocolates. Valentine’s Day began as Lupercalia – a Roman fertility festival honoring Lupercus, the protector of shepherds. The celebration included sacrifices, naked rituals, and a whole lot of goat skin. Today’s version may be more PG, but it still borrows from its wilder past.
11. Yawning and Covering Your Mouth
In ancient times, people thought yawning could let your soul escape – or invite demons in. Covering your mouth wasn’t about manners; it was spiritual protection. It’s one of those habits we all do without knowing its eerie origins.
12. Naming the Months
January is for Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings. March is for Mars, the god of war. May comes from Maia, goddess of growth, and June from Juno, goddess of marriage. Many of our months honor deities from Roman polytheism, which shows just how embedded paganism still is in our calendar.
13. Wearing Jewelry
Jewelry wasn’t just about fashion in ancient times – it was spiritual armor. Egyptians buried people with amulets to protect them in the afterlife. Vikings wore ornate pieces to display rank and influence. Even the Romans reserved certain gold rings for political elites. Jewelry often meant power, not just style.
14. Playing with Makeup
Makeup has deep spiritual roots, especially in ancient Egypt. Eye paint symbolized the eye of Horus, offering power and protection. Both men and women wore cosmetics not only to enhance beauty but to signal status and connect with the divine. Today, your eyeliner might be more Sephora than sacred, but the impulse is the same.
15. Having Pets
Keeping cats or dogs isn’t just a modern pleasure. Ancient pagans believed animals had magical or spiritual qualities. Cats, in particular, were seen as mystical beings with connections to other worlds – possibly shape-shifters or messengers from beyond. This might explain why cats still have such a spooky reputation.
16. Celebrating Halloween
Halloween’s roots lie in Samhain, a Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the thinning of the veil between the living and dead. Spirits were believed to walk the Earth, and people wore costumes to avoid possession. Trick-or-treating? That evolved from offerings left to pacify the wandering souls.
17. Face Painting and Ritual Adornment
In cultures across the ancient world, decorating the body had spiritual significance. Whether it was war paint, ceremonial markings, or everyday enhancements, face painting helped people connect with gods, intimidate enemies, or stand out socially. Even today’s makeup has echoes of that sacred function.
18. Taking Spiritual Baths
Many pre-modern societies practiced purification rituals with water, believing that bathing could wash away not just dirt, but negative spiritual energy. Though today’s baths are mostly for comfort or hygiene, they’re still a personal ritual with ancient echoes of renewal and rebirth.
19. Using Symbols for Protection
Symbols like scarabs, serpents, and the eye of Horus were used in pagan cultures as spiritual armor. They were carved into amulets, walls, and weapons. Even today, people wear talismans or spiritual jewelry for protection, often not realizing they’re echoing millennia-old traditions.
20. Observing Seasonal Changes
Equinoxes, solstices, and moon phases were central to pagan life. The cycle of nature was sacred, dictating when to plant, harvest, and celebrate. While modern life may not follow the lunar calendar, seasonal holidays, zodiac signs, and moon rituals are ancient traditions rebranded for a new age.
Paganism Is Hiding in Plain Sight
When we say something is “pagan,” we often think of the distant past. But the truth is, pagan traditions live on in everyday life. From how we celebrate love and death to what we wear and how we decorate, we carry forward the ideas of ancient cultures – often without even realizing it. Paganism wasn’t a single religion, but a way of understanding the world through nature, ritual, and spiritual connection. And it turns out, we’re not so different from those old villagers after all.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.