{"id":1469,"date":"2023-02-27T10:19:03","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T09:19:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1469"},"modified":"2023-02-27T10:19:03","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T09:19:03","slug":"did-the-ancient-romans-celebrate-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/did-the-ancient-romans-celebrate-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Did the ancient romans celebrate christmas?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although the ancient Romans did not celebrate Christmas as we know it today, they did have a winter festival called Saturnalia. This festival took place in December and was a time when people could relax, have parties, and enjoy themselves. There were also special foods and gifts that were given during Saturnalia.<\/p>\n

No, the ancient Romans did not celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The ancient Romans were pagans who worshipped many gods and goddesses.<\/p>\n

What was Christmas called in ancient Rome? <\/h2>\n

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was allowed, masters provided table service for their slaves, and normal work and business came to a halt.<\/p>\n

The church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in 336, during the reign of the emperor Constantine. As Constantine had made Christianity the effective religion of the empire, some have speculated that choosing this date had the political motive of weakening the established pagan celebrations.<\/p>\n

When did Christmas replace Saturnalia <\/h3>\n