The Origins of Christmas
by Since man began cultivating the earth, he has followed the path of the sun all year, because he depended upon it for food, warmth and well-being. The seasons also determined the timing of festivals. Since the dawn of time, rituals and sacrifices were made when the sun reached significant points in its orbit, namely the summer and winter solstices.
It was with the winter solstice, the period of the year when the days finally start to become longer, which was considered to be the most important. The historians agree that, well before the Roman times, people in Europe celebrated rebirth and the much awaited of return of nature and the hope of new life. However, we know nothing about the actual ceremonies which took place at that time but it is probable that fire and light, as symbols, played an important part.
The Romans worshiped Saturn, the god of agriculture and his name came from the Latin verb Severe (to sow). His festival, Saturnalia, took place from the 17th to the 24th of December. It was said that they extended until the calendes of January, the Roman New Year’s Day. The Roman calends was the first day of each month.
Nordic peoples celebrated Njord, god of fertility and Idun, guardian of the apples of youth, food of the gods.
Orientals followed the cult of Mithra, god of the moon.
All these religions dating from before Christianity celebrated the winter solstice to give courage and hope to people frightened by winter, darkness and the absence of life.
When it began, Saturnalia took place at sowing time, but this tradition was lost and the celebration began to be used to justify all kinds of unrestrained partying, feasts and orgies. The Greco-Roman poet, Lucien, who lived in the 2nd century AD, described Saturnalia as an occasion to drink more than usual, to make a lot of noise, to play and dance, to crown kings and give meals to the slaves. It promoted kindness and respect to all.
As we do nowadays at Christmas, people gave presents – amulets, honey cakes and gold were popular gifts. They decorated their houses with ivy, holly and mistletoe and all work, except cooking and banking, were forbidden.
In spite of the increasing influence of the church and its followers, the Christian liturgical rites did not manage to get rid of the pagan festival of Saturnalia. This festival, so full of excitement and spirit blocked the progress of Christianity for a long time.
Christianity was also threatened by another strongly established religion in the Roman Empire: the worship of Mithra. In the ancient Iranian religion, Mithra was the god of light, the symbol of chastity and purity and it fought evil forces. In 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, its worship was widespread in the Roman Empire and the Emperor Aurelian even made it the state religion. The Roman soldiers, of whom good number venerated Mithra, were the ambassadors of this religion which they spread until in the provinces furthest away from the Empire.
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