12/27/2023 0 Comments Saturnalia cake![]() It is possible that this date was chosen to coincide with the festival of Sol Invictus (and certainly the winter solstice) however, there is little evidence that the birth of Sol Invictus was celebrated on the 25th before the mid-4th century, so it may be the other way around. Early Christians didn’t celebrate Christ’s birth at all (primarily because the gospels don’t give a date), but the 4th century had seen a gradual focus on its importance with the first celebration of the nativity taking place in Alexandria on the 25th of December, 432 AD. That same calendar also gives this date as the birth of Jesus. Although long worshiped in ancient Rome, the importance of the sun as a deity increased with Syrian influence in the 4th century AD and the festival of Sol Invictus was marked in the Philocalian Calendar of 354 AD as taking place on the 25th of December (the day of the solstice, according to Julian reckoning). Its close proximity to the winter solstice meant that Saturnalia had merged with the later festival of the birth of Sol Invictus – the ‘Unconquered Sun’. The trading of gifts, feasting and the lighting of candles in the darkening days of December influenced modern Christmas traditions as Saturnalia continued to be celebrated as a secular holiday long after it was officially removed from the calendar. It was also described as a festival of light with widespread use of wax candles which were sometimes exchanged as gifts.Ī dedication made to Sol Invictus (the ‘unconquered sun’) whose birth was celebrated on the 25th of December in the late Roman Empire It was a riotous holiday marked by eating, drinking, dancing and gambling. Businesses, courts and schools would close and people would go home for several days of private merrymaking with the 19th a day of gift giving. Saturnalia began with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn on the 17th followed by a public banquet. ![]() In mimicry of this mythical age, there was a role reversal between slaves and masters with the former treated to a banquet and, in some instances, even served by their masters. It was in honour of the god Saturn, an agricultural deity who had reigned over the world during its Golden Age which was marked by peace, harmony and bountiful harvests. Mustacei were eaten during the Roman festival of Saturnalia which began December 17th and could last until December 23rd. Fresco from the House of the Dioscuri at Pompeii, Naples Archaeological Museum. The Roman god Saturn with his scythe signifying his role as an agricultural deity.
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