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CHAPTER 3

          The Saturnalia

In Roman culture many pagan gods existed such as the Saturnalia.  In the previous chapter some of the sources referred to the Saturnalia as having an influence on the dating and the traditions of Christmas season.  What is this “Saturnalia”?  There is evidence from prominent historical resources that the festival that honored the “Saturnalia” was celebrated at the time mainstream Christianity celebrates the birth of Christ.  Did this pagan celebration of the “Saturnalia” help to give rise to what mainstream Christianity now calls “Christmas”?

Saturn (mythology), in Roman mythology, ancient god of agriculture. In later legends he was identified with the Greek god Cronus, who, after having been dethroned by his son Zeus (in Roman mythology, Jupiter), fled to Italy, where he ruled during the Golden Age, a time of perfect peace and happiness. Beginning on December 17 of each year, during the festival known as the Saturnalia, the Golden Age was restored for seven days. 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.  Microsoft Encyclopedia Encarta 2000

During the Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves.  Many Romans also celebrated the lengthening of daylight following the winter solstice by participating in rituals to glorify Mithra, the ancient Persian god of light.  Microsoft Encyclopedia Encarta 2000

In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts.  December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness.  Encyclopedia Britannica, P. 283

The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at this time, and some Christmas customs are thought to be rooted in this ancient pagan celebration.  Encyclopedia Americana 1994, book #6, P. 666

Mid-winter was a time of celebration in the Greco-Roman world, as the winter solstice marked the turn of the year.  Saturnalia extended from December 17 to 24 and in A.D. 274 the emperor Aurelian made December 25 a feast of the invincible sun.  New 20^th Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, P. 181

The ancient Romans honored the god Saturn in a midwinter festival known as Saturnalia.  Many of the customs associated with Saturnalia reversed ordinary social rules and roles.  Early Christian writers disapproved of this rowdy Roman revelry.  Nevertheless, some of the customs associated with Saturnalia later attached themselves to the celebration of Christmas.  Encyclopedia of Christmas, by Gulevich, P. 556

Many of our Christmas customs have their roots in pagan ceremonies that were already hoary with age by the fourth century A.D.  Our remote forefathers decorated their houses with evergreens at the Winter Solstice, and lit bonfires in high places to strengthen the reviving sun in his course.  During the Saturnalia, candles and green wreaths were given as presents, and the streets were crowded with noisy processions of garlanded men and women carrying lighted tapers.  Christmas and its Customs, by Christina Hole, P. 10

It is obvious from these sources of history that the “Saturnalia” is connected to the celebration of “Christmas”.  This wintertime festival of the “Saturnalia” was purely a pagan celebration in honor of the pagan gods.  Does God approve of this kind of worship that we give during the Christmas season knowing how all of this has originated?  We will discover that in the later chapters of this book.