So today is Saturnalia, let us rejoice! During Roman times, Saturn, the Roman god of Agriculture and Harvest, was paid tribute to every year on December 17, the Romans, and other inhabitants of the Republic/Empire would mark this date as a time to give thanks, trade gifts, light candles, and rejoice for a good year and look forward to the next. Evidently it lines up with (almost) the Winter Solstice. Now you might be asking how does this relate to Christ? Well, we are not 100% of the date Christ was born on, but to help integrate Pagans (non-judeo-christians) into the Religion, many dates we're fixed to Roman celebrations and feast days. Hence, Saturnalia, was chosen most likely because it was one of, if not the most important days in the Roman Calendar. Christmas gained popularity (for the most part) in the year 311 Anno Domini, when Constantine declared that there would no longer be an official Roman Religion, making Christianity legal through out the Empire. The real date of Christmas is unknown, but some theorize that it would be around the Early Hours of September 16th, 7 B.C which would explain what the 3 wise men saw, a triple lunar-planetary conjunction, which looks magnificent in the sky to even the unaided eye. So, Gauisus Saturnalia!
Someone knows his History! It's interesting to read about how Christmas became popular over time and some of the festivals that were held around the time of Christmas.
Yay for pagan celebrations. They're always so much more flashy and fun. Happy holidays to some, and Happy Festivus for the rest of us!
