Was Saturnalia the original Christmas?

Saturnalia (detail) by Antoine Callet, 1783.It was a public holiday celebrated around December 25th in the family home. A time for feasting, goodwill, generosity to the poor, the exchange of gifts and the decoration of trees. But it wasn’t Christmas. This was Saturnalia, the pagan Roman winter solstice festival.

How did Saturnalia led to Christmas?

Pope Julius I chose December 25, 336 AD as the date when Christmas was first celebrated in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century.

How was Saturnalia the same as Christmas?

Christmas owes its roots to the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which was a pagan festival which was celebrated from December 17-25 each year. This custom was altered and absorbed into Christmas, and this allowed early Christians to gradually erase these old pagan holidays.

What is the true origin of the festival of Christmas?

One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and …

Is Saturnalia still celebrated?

Where is Saturnalia celebrated? During the Roman period, Saturnalia was celebrated across the Roman Empire. Today, however, it is celebrated by reconstructionist pagans around the world.

What is a Saturnalia miracle?

Saturnalia was a week-long celebration held in Ancient Rome in honour of Saturn – God of Wealth, Agriculture, Renewal and Time. Even the slaves that resided in Ancient Rome were given the time of Saturnalia off to celebrate, and not only were they exempt from work, in some cases, they became master for the day.

Is Christmas really a pagan holiday?

Keep reading and you’ll find that Christmas is inspired by traditions from the Romans, Celtics, Norse, Druids, and more (all pagan). At the time, all of these different groups shared one big celebration that just hapened to fall around Christmas time – the winter solstice.

Do Wiccans celebrate Saturnalia?

Today, there are not many who recognize and celebrate Saturnalia, but as it falls in line with many other midwinter festivities, some neo-pagan and wiccan groups still celebrate with candles and feasting during this time.

What is the traditional Saturnalia greeting?

The traditional greeting at a Saturnalia celebration is, “Io, Saturnalia!” with the “Io” being pronounced as “Yo.” So next time someone wishes you a happy holiday, feel free to respond with “Io, Saturnalia!” After all, if you lived in Roman times, Saturn was the reason for the season!

Does Christmas have a pagan origin?

CHRISTMAS is a holiday steeped in history and tradition. Yule logs, Christmas trees, advent and more come from Pagan religions – such as pre-Christian Europe and the Roman empire.