In a word fun. The Saturnalia or Winter Festival as it is sometimes called was a kind of release valve for the Romans. Throughout the year they had to act like a "Roman" preserving their dress, dignity and class distinction. When Saturnalia came around, they were able to abandon the pretenses and simply have fun. Society was turned upside down. Masters waited on their slaves and took orders from them (at least for one day). The slaves themselves were allowed to gamble and could come and go as they pleased. They were also given gifts by their masters. Gifts were also exchanged among freeborn friends. Public banquets were given. Practical jokes were played. The festival was in honor of the god Saturn and of course did not begin until the proper rites were performed. It was so popular that it grew to an event lasing fifteen days.
Saturn. The 25th of December was called Saturnalia in pre-Christian times.
It was the festival of Saturnalia, sometimes called the Winter Festival. It was the happiest time of the Roman year when everyone joined in, played pranks, exchanged gifts and generally turned life upside down. This included masters serving their slaves, but only for one day. The festival was so popular that it grew to 15 days of merriment.
never Never!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never for Christmas as we know it. However the Romans had a winter festival called Saturnalia which began on December 17 and one of the customs at that time was to exchange gifts. Our custom of exchanging Christmas presents is a direct descendant of this Roman custom.
Christmas?Christmas was probably firsst celebrated in ancient Rome or a major Roman city after the empire converted. The festival known as the Saturnalia was already celebrated in winter and was virtually exactly as we know a tradional Christmas to be: Trees brought inside, presents, big meals etc. So they kept the festival but changed it's subject! And it's lasted!
The tradition of exchanging gifts is believed to have originated in ancient Rome, where people would exchange gifts during the festival of Saturnalia.
Saturnalia was a wild Roman festival in honour of the god Saturn.
Saturnalia
Saturnalia
I'm not aware that it is. The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia was connected with what we now call Christmastime.
Saturnalia
The Saturnalia was a Roman religious festival in honour of the god Saturn held on the 17th of December and later extended to the 23rd of December. It was celebrated in all Roman towns, including Pompeii.
Saturnalia is this particular festival, though the ancient Romans had several similar festivals throughout the year.
Saturnalia was a Roman festival dedicated to the agricultural god Saturn. It was celebrated by the ancient Romans as a time of feasting, gift-giving, and role reversals. Today, Saturnalia is not widely celebrated as a religious holiday by any specific modern religion.
Some of the most important ancient Roman festivals celebrated in ancient Rome were Saturnalia, Lupercalia, and the Ludi Romani (Roman Games). Saturnalia was a festival honoring the god Saturn, Lupercalia was a fertility festival, and the Ludi Romani were games held in honor of Jupiter. These festivals were significant in Roman culture and were celebrated with feasting, games, and religious rituals.
Ancient Rome did these to honor the godsit is called a FEst a la muono thaks to chris
No. The Holiday originated as a festival called "Saturnalia" among Roman Pagans, but there was no mention in any records of their sexual orientations.
Saturn. The 25th of December was called Saturnalia in pre-Christian times.