![]() So, Christians readily and comfortably acknowledge that the date and some of the history of Christmas might have a connection to the pagan holidays of Saturnalia and Sol Invictus. The first reliable historical evidence of Christmas being observed on December 25 dates from his reign. Constantine, the first Christian emperor, was raised in this cult of the Unconquered Sun God, and he had a hand in turning Roman culture toward Christ and away from paganism. Sol Invictus (“Invincible Sun”) celebrated, on December 25, the renewing of the Sun King and was linked to the winter solstice (although the solstice itself never falls on December 25). There is another Roman holiday, Sol Invictus, that seems to have been gradually absorbed by Christmas, too. Over time, as the Roman Empire was Christianized, customs associated with Saturnalia were “cleaned up” and absorbed into the celebration of Christmas. That is, Christians desire to provide a spiritually positive alternative to what they perceive as a pagan celebration. The early motive for celebrating Jesus’ birth on December 25 may have been akin to that which inspires modern churches to hold “fall festivals” or “Bible costume parties” on October 31. Christians may have “redeemed” portions of the celebration. In reality, there’s some historical evidence suggesting that these events were reformed, absorbed, and transformed over time as a result of Christmas’s popularity overtaking that of Saturnalia. For instance, singing from house to house naked, feasting excessively, eating baked goods shaped like people, and exchanging bawdy gifts. ![]() To modern eyes, some Saturnalia customs come across as hedonistic perversions of Christmas traditions. Yet, for most of history, debauchery seems to dominate celebrations of the holiday in fact, the word Saturnalia became synonymous with immorality and carousing. Some accounts mention the rich paying rent for the poor, masters and slaves exchanging clothes, and so forth on Saturnalia. Interestingly, historical accounts differ about whether Saturnalia celebrations were examples of debauchery or charity. Saturnalia was a week-long Roman festival honoring the god Saturn since it started on December 17, it fell within what we now call the Christmas season. The early church did not celebrate December 25 as a day of any significance, and it wasn’t connected to the birth of Jesus until sometime during the reign of Constantine, several hundred years later. Christianity has always been aware that December 25 is almost certainly not the actual date of Jesus’ birth. There may be an ancient connection-not, however, for the reasons some skeptics assume. They have been incorporated into the Christian and secular celebrations of Christmas.Christmas, the day on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, is sometimes linked to the pagan festival known as Saturnalia. Many of these customs are still followed today. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year. It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the yule log. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. The Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year (21st December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions and giving presents. Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants. It was a time when the ordinary rules were turned upside down. Saturnalia ran for seven days from the 17th of December. The ancient Romans also held a festival to celebrate the rebirth of the year. At mid-winter the Norsemen lit bonfires, told stories and drank sweet ale. It was from the word for this wheel, houl, that the word yule is thought to have come. The Norsemen of Northern Europe saw the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. Because of this many ancient people had a great reverence for, and even worshipped the sun. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives. The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world.Īncient people were hunters and spent most of their time outdoors. Find this year's date in the multifaith calendar
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