![]() Every place the Romans had conquered or traded with has traces of this festival. The legacy of this Roman celebration has continued in various forms in many places. With the vast variety of Roman cults and household deities that spanned the conquered lands, including Britain, Saturnalia celebrations and its accompanying welcome of “Io Saturnalia” have become one singular celebration. In 312AD when Constantine I moved the entire religion from the pantheon of Roman gods to Christianity it would appear that these old celebrations co-existed alongside the new faith of the Empire. The specific date of the 25th of December is believed to be an amalgamation of Saturnalia and the Emperor Constantine’s favoured holiday – Dies Natalis Solis Invicti or ‘birth day of the unconquered sun’. ![]() The Roman invasion introduced Ancient Britain to these holiday traditions and now these familiar celebrations have filtered down throughout history, remaining long after the Christian conversion and even the collapse of the Ancient Roman Empire. The lucky Roman who discovered the hidden coin in the cake was then pronounced the lord or lady of the festival (Saturnalicius princeps), whose job it was to cause mischief and entertainment. In particular, the hiding of a silver sixpence in the Christmas pudding can be traced back to Roman times. The festival of Saturnalia gave us the lighting of candles (then called Cerei) and the idea of bringing evergreen tree boughs and branches indoors, thus our modern Christmas tree. This holiday break involved drinking, dancing, decorations, gifts and entertainment with family and neighbours. Beginning as a farmer’s religious festival to encourage and pray for the harvest of the coming year, it’s popularity grew and spread throughout the Roman Empire. Currently celebrated as the day of Jesus Christ’s birth, this was not always the purpose of the holiday. As the days get colder and the nights draw in, our modern Christmas is something to look forward to in the bleaker winter months. They have been incorporated into the Christian and secular celebrations of Christmas.In Roman times, the harsh British winter was split in half by the festival of Saturnalia, the midwinter date of the Roman Julian Calendar. 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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