2/26/2023 0 Comments Yule and saturnalia![]() ![]() Christianity couldn’t quite do away with long-standing folk traditions, so it absorbed them, making slight alterations. There is actually no biblical evidence of Christ being born at midwinter, but since midwinter is a time when people celebrate the return of the the light (literally, the sun), it only made sense to meld the birth of the Christian saviour with pre-existing rituals. It’s important to remember that what’s in the Bible we know today was decided upon. In early Christianity, there were even some who claimed the Nativity was on summer solstice. In fact, in the Roman Empire, 250 years after the birth of Christ, the people celebrated the 25th of December as the rebirth of the Sol Invictus, the “Unconquerable Sun”. So what are the original twelve days of Christmas? To understand this, we must first recall that prior to Christianity there were centuries of celebration at midwinter. Twelve days plucked from the people who celebrated the Earth and handed in a neat little package of Christian theology, avoiding old traditions like Mother’s Night. From the birth of Christ to the coming of the three wise men. We all know the popular song, but what are the twelve days of Christmas? If you go looking, you’ll likely be told the 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and end on January 6th. We begin with the twelve days themselves. I created a complete guide to each season, including history, traditions, symbols, correspondences, ritual ideas, and how you can celebrate.For the next twelve days I am going to be doing a series on some of the Old European traditions associated midwinter. The other four ( Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox, and Winter Solstice) represent the sun’s location. Four of these festivals ( Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain) are rooted in Celtic history and origins. They are sometimes referred to as the Pagan holidays or the Wheel of the Year, consisting of eight celebrations. Many Pagans, Witches, and those interested in Nature Spirituality celebrate the seasonal cycles. In many ways, the Saturnalia Festival would have looked quite bizarre to the outsider. It was a brief time of equity when slaves were treated as ordinary citizens, and the black sheep of families were honored. Saturnalia was the high point of the Roman calendar from its roots as a more solemn practice for farmers to honor the gods to its height as a week-long mid-winter celebration where work was avoided for revelry and debauchery.Īt its peak, Saturnalia was a rowdy festival where the established social order was turned upside down. At that time, Spring was considered to take place on March 25th, and due to its associations with new life, growth, and birth, it was believed to be the date of conception. However, some historians think December 25th was chosen since it takes place nine months after the Spring Equinox. The Bible doesn’t give a specific date of birth for Jesus. It ultimately served as the foundation for Christmas, with many customs such as gift-giving, singing, and family gatherings. It is believed that this decision was driven by efforts to convert pagans in the empire to Christianity. The shift from Saturnalia to Christmas was a very deliberate one. ![]() In 313 AD, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which paved the way for Rome to become a Christian society. As a result, much of the Roman Empire celebrated Saturnalia, creating large areas with unified customs. ![]() Saturnalia is the predecessor to Christmas because many of its traditions were absorbed by Christians into the holiday.Īs Rome conquered most of Europe, they forced the assimilation of local festivals and holidays. It’s worth noting that some Roman texts suggest it began in the ancient past when Saturn reigned as king, and slavery didn’t exist. These traditions were later adopted by others, and the holiday was officially named Saturnalia. The belief was these practices would create favor from the gods, allowing farmers to be blessed with an abundant harvest. This corresponded with the Winter sowing season. It’s possible it evolved as an agricultural holiday that aligned with the Winter Solstice.įarmers practiced gift-giving rituals and sacrifices for gods during the middle of Winter. Saturnalia’s exact historical beginnings are unknown. It’s undeniable this holiday and how it was celebrated would change and evolve. It’s important to understand that much of the information about this festival spans about 500 years of written information and different Roman sources. Saturnalia was an epic and unruly Roman holiday that celebrated the Roman agricultural god Saturn. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |