In the hallowed tradition of inventing new holidays and rituals expressing the wants and needs of niche communities – witness the viral success of Wolfenoot, an annual festival of canine-themed kindness created by an imaginative seven-year-old, or Festivus, as popularized by Seinfeld – here is a modest but timely proposal for Forbidden Fruit Eve as a new Satanic Yuletide custom.
The modern celebration of “Christmas” is, of course, a mish-mash of folk-customs from many different traditions. While some Satanists forego the Yule season entirely, many others simply celebrate the same secular, “cultural Christmas” as do many non-religious folk. Decorating the tree, gifting, feasting – what’s not to love?
But Forbidden Fruit Eve is a specifically Satanic ritual – in addition to the Satanic Temple’s official calendar of ritual holidays – to be enjoyed on the evening of December 24th. This rite is in honor of the wise and defiant serpent (traditionally identified with Satan) who “tempted” Eve with the fruit of knowledge:
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
And the woman said unto the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”
And the serpent said unto the woman, “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
So, basically – yay, serpent!
How to Celebrate Forbidden Fruit Eve:
You can go the extra mile by decorating your tree – here, of course, representing the Tree of Knowledge – with suitably Satanic symbols, such as the wise serpent and the apple.
If you wish, you might read – silently, or aloud – the story of how the wise serpent rescued Eve and Adam from their state of ignorant dependence. You might even share it with those with ears to hear …
Whether or not you choose to read that story, there are three crucial dimensions to a successful and enjoyable Forbidden Fruits Eve celebration:
Charity: Reflecting the Satanic values of compassion and altruism, make a Forbidden Fruit Eve donation to a charity of your choice. In keeping with the themes and values of this special night, you might consider donating to one of the Satanic Temple’s campaigns, to an atheist or Humanist association or to a charity promoting literacy and learning.
Forbidden Fruit Eve is also a great time to share books with your local community via the Little Free Library system.
Book Exchange: After dinner, participants exchange gifts of books, whether fiction or nonfiction. The book gifts may be specifically related to Satanism, such as many of the titles listed here, or may simply reflect Satanic themes and ideals such as critical thinking, individualism, and intellectual freedom. Consider also those books that have been banned (and burned) by closed-minded Christians. Choose thoughtfully and be creative!
Indulgence: While reading your new book(s), enjoy favorite midwinter treats such as eggnog, cocoa, gløgg or spicy chocolates. Apple slices make a refreshing contrast to rich, spicy treats and are very much in keeping with the ritual theme of knowledge and enlightenment as “forbidden fruits”.
Wishing all Satanists and other civilized beings a joyful holiday season and an especially merry Forbidden Fruit Eve.
