(From a bulletin by Bobby black)
Long before the coming of Christianity, with which this time of the year has become inextricably linked, people all over the world celebrated the rising of the Midwinter sun and the birth of the gods who held out to them the promise of a New Year with new hopes.
The Roman Saturnalia as its name suggests, was the celebration in honor of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time, from whence we have inherited Saturday or Saturn's day. His feast was celebrated from December 17th to the 24th. It is an ancient festival from which we derive many of the traditional celebrations associated with Midwinter. The halls were decked with holly branches and evergreen wreaths. People visited family and attended lavish banquets and holiday parties. Gifts of silver, candles, figurines, and sweets (often tied to evergreen wreaths) were exchanged. It was also customary to light candles and roam the streets singing holiday songs (albeit often in the nude). Even the "Christmas Tree" was a common sight.
In Roman times, all business stopped and executions and military operations were postponed. It was a period of goodwill, devoted to banquets and the exchange of visits and gifts. A special feature of the festival was the freedom given to slaves, who during this time had first place at the family table and were served by their masters.
During Saturnalia it was customary to chose and crown a mock king, who ruled over chaos rather than the order that was a central aspect of Roman rule. Lots were cast and the chosen person became the Lord of Misrule, the Saturnalicus Princeps, who assumed the role of Saturn throughout the festival. He was a buffoon king, and his task was to behave as foolishly as possible, insulting guests, and wearing outlandish clothing.
Today Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th without thinking. Yet it was four hundred years after the birth of Jesus that the date was fixed. At the time the date of Jesus birth was officially assigned as Christ's birthday, Rome was pretty thoroughly Christianized, but the former pagans were more reluctant to give up the holiday than they were their gods. After brushing aside inconvenient facts (such as the bible's own accounts placing the birth of Jesus in the spring), the names were changed but the holiday remained the same. Elements of popular Pagan nativities were borrowed to create a backstory fit for the new god, from the heralding star to the shepherds visiting the newborn in his cave.
So, the next time you're quizzed over the "reason for the season," just toss off an "Io, Saturnalia!" and leave them to scratching their heads.
