Christianity has long been a debated religion, and one topic of debate is whether it is connected to pagan practices. While there are some similarities between certain Christian traditions and pagan rituals, it is important to distinguish between influence and connection. **Christianity incorporates various elements from pagan practices through assimilation rather than direct association.** Throughout history, different cultures and religions have often borrowed and adapted customs, beliefs, and practices from one another. In the case of Christianity, this is particularly evident in the celebration of Christmas and Easter, two of the most important events on the Christian calendar. The timing of these holidays coincides with pagan festivals such as the winter solstice and the spring equinox, which were widely celebrated in ancient times.
Aubrey Miller Exclusive Interview on Just Add Magic
Based on Cindy Callaghan’s book of the same name, Just Add Magic follows Kelly (Olivia Sanabia, Extant), and her two best friends Darbie (Abby Donnelly, Suburgatory) and Hannah (Aubrey Miller, Austin & Ally), as they stumble upon a mysterious cookbook in Kelly’s attic and discover the recipes in this book are far from ordinary—they’re magical. The series also stars Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) and Amy Hill (50 First Dates). Just Add Magic, the brand-new live-action series with Olivia Sanabia debuts Friday, January 15 on Amazon Prime Video!
Photo Credit: Amazon Studios
Can you all tell me a little bit about your characters and the show?
The show is about three best friends who discover a cookbook in the attic and find out its anything but ordinary… it’s magical. I play Hannah. She is the fashionista of the trio and totally down to earth. She is always striving to make the best decisions and when things don’t go as planned, she starts to worry… a lot! The cookbook definitely pushes Hannah out of her comfort zone and she and is determined, along with her BFFs to discover the mystery behind the magical cookbook.
Do you share any similarities with your characters?
Yes! Hannah and I both dance, sing, play music and love to cook. In the show Hannah never wants to do anything wrong or get in trouble. She truly loves her friends and family… even though her sister drives her a bit crazy. I can totally relate to all of that, except the sister part, because I’m an only child. We both are always seeing the best in people and never want anyone to get hurt.
Did you get a chance to read the Cindy Callaghan book before reading for the show?
I did. The pilot is based on the book and the writers got creative and really brought the show to life this season. Cindy Callaghan created Hannah, Kelly, Darbie, and their magical cookbook. It was so much fun watching these characters grow this season. We can’t wait for everyone to get to know Hannah, Kelly and Darbie like we do.
How do you get in character?
Hannah has become a part of me now. Every day when I walk on set that’s just who I am. The writers have made Hannah a lot like me. I love getting to play her and getting to go on all her magical adventures. My co-stars and I are besties in real life, so all of the chemistry you see on the screen comes from the magic behind the screen.
Why has Just Add Magic been fun to film? What has been your favorite story on the show so far or scene without spoiling anything?
Just Add Magic has been so much fun to film. The whole cast has truly become family. I’m so grateful I get to come to work and be with such amazing people everyday. Every scene has been so much fun to film and are all special in their own way. One scene that particularly stands out is a scene in the finale where Hannah and Kelly get into a big fight. I loved getting to show a stronger side of Hannah that is unbreakable, and it shows how far she will go to protect her friendship. Since Hannah is normally such a loving person and doesn’t like to cause drama, It was really fun getting the opportunity to perform a more dramatic scene with Kelly.
The pantry room looks awesome, how cool was it to film in that room?
The secret pantry is my favorite part of the set. It’s so mysterious and magical. I get so excited every time we film in there. On the ceiling in the pantry you will see a fork, spoon and knife which resembles the same logo on the magic cookbook and every time you walk in, there is just something so magical about it. It’s also amazing because there is not a jar or bottle in the pantry that is not filled with something very special. We have filmed in there many times and every time it’s so fascinating to see all of the time, work, love, and, most importantly, magic that has gone into making every single tiny little detail of not only the pantry but of each set.
Amy Hill is great as Mama P, how was it working with her?
Amy is so amazing! I love working with her! She is so funny and never fails to make us laugh. Mamma P. has so many different layers to her character. I can’t wait for everyone to see who she really is. I couldn’t have asked for a better Mamma P.
The overall mystery is so much fun, how much did you know during filming?
We honestly knew nothing. Every episode ends on a cliff hanger and we couldn’t wait to read the next script. We were just as surprised as you will all be when you watch the show. At every table read we couldn’t help but gasp because the writers did such an amazing job! We would always try to get a peek at the writing board because we couldn’t take the suspense.
If you could have any recipes real in your life which one would you want to use? What is your favorite thing to cook or bake in real life?
I wish almost every spell in the magic cookbook were real. In the pilot, we had a healing hazelnut tart. This would be my first choice, because it can heal diseases, illnesses, broken bones, broken hearts and so many other problems in this world. I love to cook/ bake, and a healing tart sounds ideal, but one of the many things I love to cook are brussels sprouts. I know they sound gross but they are actually amazing. I love to bake and eat them with my homemade garlic aioli sauce. It is absolutely delicious!!
Were there any funny behind the scene stories you can share with us while filming?
We are always laughing in between takes. There is never a dull moment on our set. There was a scene in particular with my co-star Abby Donnelly (Darbie) that every time I think about, it still makes me laugh. We had to eat these magical chocolate truffles and in every take they seemed to magically grow. Lol. Every time we popped a truffle in our mouth our lines became more and more difficult to say. Eventually we couldn’t speak at all…we just kept laughing. We laughed so hard, but we weren’t the only ones. All of the producers, crew members and our director were laughing just as hard as we were.
Are there any celebrities you are dying to meet? Who has been one of your favorite people to work with?
I’m dying to meet the cast of Once Upon A Time and hope to work with them one day. I have been so fortunate to have worked with so many greats, such as; Ariana Grande, Jeanette McCurdy, Marisa Tomei, Jamie Lee Curtis, George Lopez, Leigh-Allyn Baker, the cast of Austin and Ally, William Macy, David Duchovny and so many more.
Give me a few tips to be a successful actor or for kids trying to get into acting?
Everyone’s path is different and how you get there is determined by motivation, support, faith, hard work and perseverance. I believe there’s no rejection in this industry. Every stumbling block and obstacle are growing opportunities to reaching your goals.
Where can we find you on social media? Any other projects you are working on?
You can follow me on Instagram: @officialaubreymiller, Twitter: @aubreykmiller, YouTube: Aubrey K Miller, IMDb: Aubrey K Miller. I have a feature film coming out this summer called Little Savages, a new original song you can soon buy on iTunes and a new music video coming soon on YouTube.
Why should everyone tune in to Just Add Magic on Amazon Prime Video?
Just Add Magic is a wholesome fun family show that everyone can watch. If you love baking, mystery, magic, and friendship, this is the show for you. Every episode ends on a cliff hanger and leaves you wanting more. So get your popcorn and get ready to binge-watch 13 NEW episodes of Just Add Magic!
Special thanks to Aubrey Miller who plays Hannah on Just Add Magic from Amazon Prime Video!
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The timing of these holidays coincides with pagan festivals such as the winter solstice and the spring equinox, which were widely celebrated in ancient times. Over the years, Christian leaders sought to Christianize these pagan festivals by replacing the original practices with Christian ones. For example, Christmas replaced pagan winter solstice celebrations by marking the birth of Jesus Christ.
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Similarly, Easter falls around the same time as many ancient fertility festivals, but it now commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. **While the timing may be similar, the intent and focus of these Christian celebrations are entirely different from their pagan predecessors.** Furthermore, Christianity promotes monotheism and worship of a single God, distinguishing it from the polytheistic nature of many pagan religions. The key tenet of Christianity is faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Pagan beliefs, on the other hand, often involve the worship of numerous deities associated with different aspects of life. It is also worth noting that Christianity emerged in a time and place where pagan religions were prevalent. As it spread throughout the Roman Empire, it encountered various traditions and practices that were already established. To gain acceptance and facilitate the conversion of pagans to Christianity, some customs and symbols were incorporated into the new religion, resulting in a certain level of assimilation. In conclusion, while there are some connections between Christianity and pagan practices, it is important to note that these connections are a result of assimilation rather than direct association. Christianity incorporated certain elements from pagan customs and rituals through adapting and Christianizing pre-existing celebrations. However, the core beliefs and focus of Christianity differ significantly from pagan religions, particularly in terms of monotheism and the worship of Jesus Christ as the central figure..
Reviews for "Unmasking the Pagan Roots of Christian Rituals"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed by the book "Is Christianity Connected to Pagan Practices." The author seemed to be going out of their way to discredit Christianity rather than truly exploring the topic. The arguments presented were weak and lacked substantial evidence. Overall, I found the book to be biased and unconvincing.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Is Christianity Connected to Pagan Practices" to be a complete waste of time. The author's arguments were based on cherry-picked historical references without proper contextualization. It felt like a conspiracy theory rather than a well-researched analysis. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a fair and unbiased examination of the topic.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I was initially intrigued by the topic of the book, but I was disappointed by the overall content. The author seemed to have a clear agenda and selectively chose evidence that supported their viewpoint while ignoring opposing arguments. This resulted in a highly biased presentation of the topic. It would have been more valuable if the author had approached the subject matter with an open mind and presented a balanced perspective.
4. Emily - 1 star - "Is Christianity Connected to Pagan Practices" was a frustrating read. The author's arguments lacked logical coherence, and many of the claims were based on conjecture rather than concrete evidence. It felt like a personal attack on Christianity rather than an academic examination of the topic. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in a serious discussion about the connection between Christianity and pagan practices.