Saturnalia

<p>Saturnalia written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Saskia Moorrees: <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Saturnalia/" target="_blank">https://www.worldhistory.org/Saturnalia/</a></p> <p>If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company:</p> <p>- <a href="https://member.ancient.eu/membership/" target="_blank">www.ancient.eu/membership/</a></p> <p>- <a href="https://pages.donately.com/ancienteu/campaigns" target="_blank">www.ancient.eu/donate/</a></p> <p>- <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ahe" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/ahe</a></p> <p>The <a href="https://member.ancient.eu/Saturnalia/" target="_blank"><b>Saturnalia</b></a> was an enduring <a href="https://member.ancient.eu/Roman/" target="_blank"><b>Roman</b></a> festival dedicated to the agricultural god <a href="https://member.ancient.eu/Saturn/" target="_blank"><b>Saturn</b></a> which was held between the 17th and 23rd of December each year during the winter solstice. Originating from <a href="https://member.ancient.eu/Archaic/" target="_blank"><b>archaic</b></a> agricultural rituals the Roman festivities came to include a general round of gift-giving, merrymaking, and role-reversals so that it became one of the most popular celebrations in the calendar and certainly the jolliest. The similarities of some of its features and the timing - pushed later into December over time - suggest a strong influence on the Christian celebration of Christmas.</p>