It all just goes to show that the celebrations of even the most disparate societies, and of cultures that may seem opposed in so many ways, actually share the same human concerns, passions and superstitions. Over in China, meanwhile, there’s the Dongzhi festival of December, which again brings families together for some serious celebrating time, with traditional foods including balls of glutinous rice served in savoury and sweet broths, and traditional dumplings. It calls for happy gatherings of family and friends, the reading of classic Persian poetry, the singing of songs and the eating and drinking of delicious things – especially certain fruit such as watermelons and pomegranates. Read more about: Popular Culture The real Santa Claus: How psychedelics may have inspired the story of SantaĪ more obviously solstice-inspired soiree is the Iranian Shab-e Yalda festival, which is marked every December. In 274 AD, long after Saturnalia was already a thing, the Romans established yet another way to mark the season: a day to celebrate the sun god Sol Invictus. Saturnalia is a classic example of a winter solstice festival, one of many which have evolved in different cultures to bring good cheer in the season of long nights, and to mark the sense a sense of renewal and rejuvenation.
Interestingly, the festivities also saw houses decked out in greenery, and gifts were exchanged. As the Roman writer, Seneca reported, “It is now the month of December, when the greatest part of the city is in a bustle… Loose reins are given to public dissipation, everywhere you may hear the sound of great preparations'. All in all, Saturnalia had all the hype and excitement we associate with Christmas today.
Saturnalia history free#
They were also allowed to openly criticise those in power, making Saturnalia an annual flowering of free speech and cheeky satire. This even meant servants and slaves were allowed to take control, with their masters even serving them feasts and following their orders. To which others might point out that the Roman Empire’s HR department probably wasn’t too fussed about the comfort and well-being of their staff, so it may well have been winter after all. There’s also the bit in the Bible reporting a census being carried out on the citizens of the Roman Empire at the time of Christ’s birth some believe it’s unlikely the Emperor would have sent his man out to collect the census information in the dire weather of winter. Aside from all that, it’s been more generally pointed out that, as shepherds were tending their flocks when Jesus was born, it’s more likely to have been spring rather than winter. Of course, others have suggested varying dates for when John’s father would have been attending to his priestly duties, and there’s really no way of telling for certain. Now, the thinking is that since John’s father was a certain kind of priest who according to historical sources would have practiced in June, then Mary must therefore have conceived in December, and given birth to Jesus in September. Six months later, the Virgin Mary was given similar celestial news about her own pregnancy. Why? Well, according to the Bible, he was at work one day when he was approached by an angel and told that his wife was to have a baby. Or maybe the Star of Bethlehem was actually the light cast by the alignment of the planets Saturn and Jupiter, which occurred in October a few years previous to that? Others contend that September was the actual birth month, getting this from calculations involving John the Baptist’s father.
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