Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival held in honor of the god Saturn. It was celebrated annually from December 17th to December 23rd. The holiday was characterized by feasting, gift-giving, and various forms of social merriment. During the festival, public gatherings and banquets were organized, and people would exchange presents, particularly small figurines or wax candles called sigillaria. Slaves were also traditionally given temporary freedom to participate in the festivities and engage in role reversal with their masters. Pagan rituals and customs were an integral part of Saturnalia.
Meanwhile Yule - celebrated between November and January - was a time when cattle and other animals would be slaughtered so they wouldn’t have to be fed through the winter. This fresh supply of meat made it the perfect time for a feast.
The fact that Christmas was celebrated on the birthday of the unconquered sun dies solis invicti nati gave the season a solar background, connected with the kalends of January January 1, the Roman New Year when houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and presents were given to children and the poor. The Catiline conspirators intended to fire the city and kill the Senate on the Saturnalia, when many would be preoccupied with the celebration Cicero, The Third Oration Against Catiline , X.
Pagan rituals and customs were an integral part of Saturnalia. People decorated their homes with evergreen boughs and lights, symbolizing life and rebirth. Additionally, the festival involved a period of indulgence and excess, with widespread gambling, drinking, and feasting.
Merry Saturnalia! Which Christmas traditions are actually pagan?
Christmas is coming, but do you know which of your favourite things about the holiday were practiced by druids?
ADVERTISEMENTWith snow in the air and mince pies in the supermarket, Saturnalia is on everyone’s mind.
That’s right, Saturnalia. Because many of our most treasured Christmas traditions are in fact, borrowed. In the early days of Christianity, would-be converters found it convenient to adapt already beloved solstice celebrations to their belief model, so it would be easier to convince others to follow them.
This means that our modern-day Christmas is in fact one in a long line of celebrations to brighten up the gloomy winter and look forward to the days lengthening.
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It’s not that the whole of Christmas is plagiarised, but if you look you’ll see some long-running trends linked to pre-Christian Europeans. It turns out pagan traditions are everywhere at Christmas, so when you’re decorating your tree this year, think about our druid ancestors and what they would have made of your handiwork.
Saturnalia was seen as a time of joy and liberation, where the social order was temporarily overturned. It was a time for people to let loose and enjoy themselves, regardless of their social status. Many of the traditions and customs associated with Saturnalia were eventually absorbed into the celebrations of Christmas, as the holiday evolved over time. Overall, Saturnalia was a significant pagan holiday in ancient Roman culture. It provided an opportunity for people to come together, celebrate, and embrace the festive spirit. The traditions and customs associated with Saturnalia have left a lasting impact on Western culture, with echoes of this ancient festival still present in modern-day celebrations..
Reviews for "Saturnalia: The Rejuvenating Festival of Saturn in Ancient Rome"
1. Emily - 1 star
I was really disappointed in "Pagan holidzy saturnliia". I was expecting a fun and whimsical holiday book, but instead it was just confusing and not enjoyable at all. The characters were hard to connect with and the plot felt disjointed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted holiday read.
2. John - 2 stars
"Pagan holidzy saturnliia" had an interesting premise, but the execution fell flat for me. The writing style was confusing and hard to follow, and the story seemed to lack direction. I also found it difficult to empathize with the characters, as they were not well-developed. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unengaged throughout the book.
3. Sarah - 1 star
I struggled to get through "Pagan holidzy saturnliia". The writing was convoluted and the pacing was incredibly slow. The book seemed to focus more on unnecessary details rather than moving the plot forward. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and I had a hard time caring about their journeys. I was disappointed with this read and wouldn't recommend it to others.