The Bible does not give a date for Jesus’ birth in fact, some theologians have concluded he was probably born in spring, as suggested by references to shepherds and sheep in the Nativity story.īut by the fourth century A.D., Western Christian churches settled on celebrating Christmas on December 25, which allowed them to incorporate the holiday with Saturnalia and other popular pagan midwinter traditions. The Christian holiday of Christmas, especially, owes many of its traditions to the ancient Roman festival, including the time of year Christmas is celebrated. to the fourth century A.D.-and their suppression of older seasonal rites practiced by the Celts and other groups-today’s Western cultures derive many of their traditional celebrations of midwinter from Saturnalia. Thanks to the Roman Empire’s conquests in Britain and the rest of Europe from the second century B.C. The common holiday custom of hiding coins or other small objects in cakes is one of many dating back to Saturnalia, as this was a method of choosing the mock king. The idea was that he ruled over chaos, rather than the normal Roman order. In many Roman households, a mock king was chosen: the Saturnalicius princeps, or “leader of Saturnalia,” sometimes also called the “Lord of Misrule.” Usually a lowlier member of the household, this figure was responsible for making mischief during the celebrations-insulting guests, wearing crazy clothing, chasing women and girls, etc. The cult statue of Saturn in the temple traditionally had woolen bonds tied around his feet, but during Saturnalia these bonds were loosened to symbolize the god’s liberation. On the first day of the festivities, a young pig would often be publicly sacrificed at the temple, which was located in the northwest corner of the Roman Forum. to replace an earlier temple, the Temple of Saturn in Rome served as the ceremonial center of later Saturnalia celebrations. READ MORE: 10 Innovations That Built Ancient Rome Temple of Saturn and Other Saturnalia CustomsĬonstructed in the fourth century A.D. Saturnalia was by far the jolliest Roman holiday the Roman poet Catullus famously described it as “the best of times.” So riotous were the festivities that the Roman author Pliny reportedly built a soundproof room so that he could work during the raucous celebrations. On the last day of Saturnalia celebrations, known as the Sigillaria, many Romans gave their friends and loved ones small terracotta figurines known as signillaria, which may have referred back to older celebrations involving human sacrifice. Wax taper candles called cerei were common gifts during Saturnalia, to signify light returning after the solstice. Instead of working, Romans spent Saturnalia gambling, singing, playing music, feasting, socializing and giving each other gifts. Even enslaved people did not have to work during Saturnalia, but were allowed to participate in the festivities in some cases, they sat at the head of the table while their masters served them. People decorated their homes with wreaths and other greenery, and shed their traditional togas in favor of colorful clothes known as synthesis. Schools and courts of law closed, and the normal social patterns were suspended. WATCH: The Winter Solstice How the Romans Celebrated Saturnaliaĭuring Saturnalia, work and business came to a halt.

Saturnalia mummers