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Was it true that Saturnalia celebration fell on December 25?

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Question

Was it true that Saturnalia celebration fell on December 25?

Answer

No.  Historical evidence from Macrobius (±430 M) recounted that Saturnalia celebration was held on December 16-18, not December 25.

Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius, lived in first half of 5 century AD, was a Roman pagan religion adherent. adalah seorang penganut agama pagan Romawi. In his book “Saturnalia”,1 he talked about his religion, i.e., Saturnalia was held on 14th day prior to January during one day.

Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius (Paruh pertama abad 5 M)
Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius (Paruh pertama abad 5 M)

Apud maiores nostros Saturnalia die uno finiebantur, qui erat a. d. quartum decimum Kalendas Ianuarias: sed postquam C. Caesar huic mensi duos addixit dies, sexto decimo coepta celebrari. Ea re factum est ut, cum vulgus ignoraret certum Saturnaliorum diem, nonnullique a C. Caesare inserto die et alii vetere more celebrarent, plures dies Saturnalia numerarentur: licet et apud veteres opinio fuerit septem diebus peragi Saturnalia, si opinio vocanda est quae idoneis firmatur auctoribus. (Buku I, Bab X, Kalimat ke 2)1

In a single day, that our ancestors had their boundaries the Saturnalia, which was of. d. the fourteenth day before the Kalends of January, but two months after he had connected himself with Gaius Caesar to this day, in the sixth year of his first attempts to be celebrated. That matter came to pass, that, when the common people did not know the day of his Saturnalia is certain, and some by Caesar, inserted in an ancient custom of the day and the others, that the days of the Saturnalia was counted: seven days it shall be permitted to be carried out in the opinion of the Saturnalia among the ancients, and, if the opinion is to be called is that which is established by the authors of suitable .

Saturn temple site in Rome, Italy, eventually lost its visitors, abandoned by people, and became historic ruins when people chose to follow Jesus Christ. Saturn religion still existed in 5<sup>th</sup> century AD.
Temple of Saturn in Rome, Italy, eventually lost its visitors, abandoned by people, and became historic ruins when people chose to follow Jesus Christ. Saturn religion still existed in 5th century AD.

Before Julian Calendar reformation, in the time of Roman ancestors, Desember consisted of 29 days.2 Then, 14th day prior to January was:

  1. Desember 29
  2. Desember 28
  3. Desember 27
  4. Desember 26
  5. Desember 25
  6. Desember 24
  7. Desember 23
  8. Desember 22
  9. Desember 21
  10. Desember 20
  11. Desember 19
  12. Desember 18
  13. Desember 17
  14. Desember 16

After Julian Calendar reformation, Desember consisted of 31 days. Then, 14th day prior to January was:

  1. Desember 31
  2. Desember 30
  3. Desember 29
  4. Desember 28
  5. Desember 27
  6. Desember 26
  7. Desember 25
  8. Desember 24
  9. Desember 23
  10. Desember 22
  11. Desember 21
  12. Desember 20
  13. Desember 19
  14. Desember 18

The historical evidence of Macrobius indicate that Saturnalia was celebrated by the ancient Roman pagan religion adherents on December 16-18, instead of December 25. This historical evidence corroborates arguments that Christmas was not derived from the Saturnalia.

Temple of Saturn
Temple of Saturn

Conclusion

  1. Saturnalia was held on December 16-18 Desember Julian Calender according to historical evidence from Macrobius.
  2. It is evidently proven, that Christmas did not originate in Saturnalia.

Bibliography

1http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/l/roman/texts/Macrobius/Saturnalia/1*.html; access 4/16/2015 9:43

2http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/roman-calendar.html; access 4/16/2015 10:37

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