Seitenleiste
Special holidays occur. Apostle Holydays, named after the five legendary Erisian apostles, occur on the fifth day of each season. So we have Mungday, Mojoday, Syaday, Zaraday, and Maladay. On each one of these days, Discordians celebrate the aspects of the apostle who most embodied that season. On the 50th day of each season, there are holydays which celebrate the aspects of the season itself - Chaoflux, Discoflux, Confuflux, Bureflux, and Afflux. Each cabal tends to celebrate the holydays in different ways. In practice, many Discordians also borrow some more holidays from the broader Neo- Pagan community such as Samhain.
Those many Discordians who use the calendar date it from the Original Snub said to have taken place around 3169 years ago, at the time of this writing. So 2003 = 3169. And true to the spirit of Discordianism, not everyone uses this calendar.
Context Within the Broader Neo-Pagan Community
Many Discordians are also practitioners of other traditions such as Wicca, or variations of Witchcraft. Eris worshippers, such as me, also have other deities. Some are even members of other religions such as Buddhism - Zen is a particular favorite, and sometimes Discordianism is described as a laugh happy Pagan Zen. Many of the major Neo- Pagan traditions of today started off as parodies and/or eclectic rip-offs of other occult traditions, and Discordianism is no exception. The major difference is that with a Goddess such as Eris, and with sacred scriptures that are absurd, Discordianism tends to stay humorous and non-dogmatic and this spirit does flow through other Neo-Pagan traditions as manifested in play and mirth.
While many practitioners of Chaos Magic do not consider themselves Pagans (though it doesn't stop them from stealing Pagan traditions), those of a Discordian flavor will be more likely to refer to themselves as such. Not all Discordians consider themselves to be practitioners of Chaos Magic, but many of the foundations of today's Chaos Magic were laid by the Discordian Society. Though it is extremely tempting to claim Chaos Magic to be a Discordian offshoot, it might be more helpful to think of the two paths as 'lovers'.
Discordianism can be said to be henotheistic, meaning that one Goddess is worshipped primarily but not to the exclusion of other deities' existences. There are many Discordians who are also polytheists and see the 'Upstart of One Hand Clapping' in many of the other deities.
This description is really a brief one and in no way could hope to capture the full spectrum of Discordianism. It is hoped that those who would like further information about the vast realm of Discordian esoterica and eristica will consult either some of the sites listed below or their own pineal glands. If you think that Discordianism is just a bunch of silly craziness that makes no sense, then you probably need to look again. If you think that Discordianism is terribly confusing, we may have more in common than you think. If you think that Discordianism is something-or-other but can't quite grasp it, hail Eris, you may understand.
[Setting Orange, Aftermath 13th, 3169/Saturday, November 1st, 2003/Samhain]
„The human race will begin solving its problems on the day that it ceases taking itself so seriously.“ -Principia Discordia
„Humanity is a giant forced to live in a pygmy's hut. Instead of knocking the damned walls down, we fight each other for more space inside.“
„Enough research tends to support one's theory.“
