Io Saturnalia!
By Michelle Chen
Saturnalia is an ancient festival for Roman pagans honoring Saturn,
the god of agriculture. Held in mid-December, Saturnalia sprouted
traditions that are currently associated with Christmas.
How it began:
Inspiration for saturnalia was cultivated from farming rituals
during the midwinter and winter solstice. During the solstice, people
would offer sacrifices for the gods. Furthermore, Saturnalia was
intended to reflect the conditions of the Golden Age, an era ruled by
Saturn, the god of agriculture. The celebration of Saturnalia
originally lasted for a day but later grew into a week-long festival
beginning on December 25th (on the Julian calendar).