That was an ancient Persian/pagan/Roman feast held on December 25th.
Wikipedia is almost shockingly frank in it's coordination of "Christmas" with it's pagan roots.
An interesting note for those who still believe in the "christian Constantine" myth:
Constantine decreed (March 7, 321) dies Solis—day of the sun, "Sunday"—as the Roman day of rest [CJ3.12.2]: "On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed..."
Christmas was promoted in the Christian East as part of the revival of Catholicism following the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. The feast was introduced to Constantinople in 379, and to Antioch in about 380. The feast disappeared after Gregory of Nazianzus resigned as bishop in 381, although it was reintroduced by John Chrysostom in about 400.[5]
The Twelve Days of Christmas end on January 5. December 26 is St. Stephen's Day and January 6 is Feast of Epiphany This period encompasses the major feasts surrounding the birth of Christ. In the Latin Rite, one week after Christmas Day, January 1, has traditionally been the celebration the Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Christ, but since Vatican II, this feast has been celebrated as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
In Colonial America, the Puritans of New England disapproved of Christmas. Celebration was outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681.
So, in case you felt like celebrating.....think twice about what it means.
Some links for Saturnalia:
An almost satanic description of how to celebrate Saturnalia.
Specifications on ancient decorations, gift giving, etc, (very similar to Solis Invicti)
Wikipedia
4 comments:
You forgot to mention the Jewish Feast of Dedication, begun apx 164 BC, by Judas Macabeus. Upon winning their independence from the Syrians, the Jews celebrated by rededicating and purifying the temple. According to Tenny, "the feast took place in December, toward the end of the month, about 3 months later than the Feast of Tabernacles."
Note John 10:22
So,
"the day" may have Jewish roots rather than/as well as/ instead of pagan Roman.
P.S.
Wikipedia is "shockingly frank", and often "blatantly deceitful", even "shockingly pornographic" in many of its posts. I would hesitate to offer it as a dependable resource for anything.
an aside: for an encyclopaedia to be "shockingly frank", and even to be "shockingly pornographic" does not detract from its reliability, though I do not defend the phonographic aspect. Wikipedia really is very reliable on most subjects, but as with any literature or publication, the reader needs to keep in mind who the author(s) is(are).
It is interesting, academically, to study the history of a day or celebration. But keep in mind that simply because people now or in the past have, in the darkness of their foolish hearts, worshipped the creation rather than the creator, we are not thus restricted should we choose to worship the Creator on the same day that they have. One man's perversions of the truth do not pervert the truth for all, for the truth still remains. Remove the perversion of the truth, hold fast to the truth, and you will be able to worship in truth.
Thanks for the info, Warbler! I've quoted your post on my blog:
http://luctor.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/dies-natalis-solis-invicti
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