Some Christmas Facts: Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on December 17 of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23. 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 that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves. Christians adopted the tradition of celebrating the birth of Christ on the 25th of December appears to date from the 4th century when Christianity was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire. In the Christian tradition the Christmas season is a period beginning on Christmas Day (25 December). In some churches (e.g. the Anglican Communion) the season continues until the day before the Epiphany, which is celebrated either on 6 January or on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January. In other churches (e.g. the Roman Catholic Church) it continues until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday following the Epiphany, or on the Monday following the Epiphany if the Epiphany is moved to 7 or 8 January. If the Epiphany is kept on 6 January, the Church of Englands use of the term Christmas season corresponds to the Twelve Days of Christmas, and ends on Twelfth Night.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 13:43:30 +0000
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