RE: Religious Institutions Engrained into Society
October 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm
(This post was last modified: October 18, 2008 at 2:20 pm by infidel666.)
It is widely acknowledged that giving of prezzies comes from Paganism, particularly Saturnalia, celebrated in Ancient Rome from Dec 17-23. Saturnalia was replaced by Sol Invictus, in which the festival culminated on December 25, which is the first day following the Winter Solstice that the sun can be observed to rise at a point north of its southernmost position. Chistmas is thought to have been moved from January 7 to December 25 in order to supplant Sol Invictus. So the giving of prezzies still has a seemingly religious origin. But it is not a reverant tradition.
Saturnalia was the festival of Chronus/Saturn, father of the greek gods who ate his children but was killed by Zeus/Jupiter. At the festival, the statue of Saturn was unbound (tied with ropes the rest of the year) and the slaves and masters switched roles for the festival. So it is a bit like a festival for throwing off the chains of established religion and social order. Me likey.
Saturnalia was the festival of Chronus/Saturn, father of the greek gods who ate his children but was killed by Zeus/Jupiter. At the festival, the statue of Saturn was unbound (tied with ropes the rest of the year) and the slaves and masters switched roles for the festival. So it is a bit like a festival for throwing off the chains of established religion and social order. Me likey.
