Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, or Christmas – Non-Fiction

Feature Writer: Hoku Lani

Feature Title: Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, or Christmas

Link: MEWE / 02.12.2020

Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, or Christmas

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the god Saturn, held on December 17th through December 24th. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere.

It continued until the Winter Solstice on December 25th, the date that the days begin to get longer.

Immediately following this was a second festival, which lasted eight days.

In the 4th century, Pope Julius dictated that December 25th was the birth date of the “man on a stick.”

Another custom stolen and manipulated by christian followers, to offer an alternative to Saturnalia. This allegedly won over converts to christianity.

Which would you prefer:

Public Banquets, gift giving, continual partying, and lust fueled sexual activity which lasted for days … Or celebrating a legendary figure’s birth in a barn, by a self proclaimed virgin mother?

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