The Predecessor of Christmas, The Saturnalia
Saturnalia was an annual pagan festival that commemorated Saturnalia, the god of agriculture, in mid-December. The Roman tradition was celebrated as a weeklong celebration where people dropped work in order to partake in gift-giving, decorating, and other events. The festival is suspected to be the predecessor of Christmas as we know it and it typically started on the 17th of December. Many people decorated their homes with wreaths and greenery and they changed out of the clothes they regularly wore. Even slaves ceased to work and received permission to take part in the festivities, even switching places with the masters in some cases! Yes, it was basically one of the greatest parties the West has ever seen and we wish we could have attended it.
The Predecessor of Christmas, The Saturnalia
Who Were The Vestal Virgins?
In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins had been an order of priestesses devoted to Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth. At any given time, you would likely find four to six priestesses working in the order full-time. The duties involved caring for the sacred fire, attending to the sacred artifacts, and facilitating public events that had to do with Vesta. The chief priest selected the Virgins when they were only aged six to ten. After being chosen, they had to render service for three decades, during which they were expected to remain chaste. As soon as the thirty years were done, they were free to leave but few chose to do so. Any Vestal Virgin who failed in her duties received severe punishments and beatings. Even worse, those who broke their vows of chastity were either buried alive or forced to swallow molten lead!
Who Were The Vestal Virgins?