Ancient Winter Celebrations and Their Meanings

Long before Christmas trees, carols, or gift wrapping, December already

held deep meaning because for ancient societies, winter was not cozy or romantic.

It was dangerous, uncertain, and often deadly, a time when food ran low and survival

was never guaranteed. So when the winter solstice arrived, the shortest day of the year,

people noticed because from that point on, the sun stopped retreating and began

its slow return, bringing with it the promise that darkness would not last forever.

In ancient Rome, this moment was marked by Saturnalia, a festival in honor of Saturn,

the god of agriculture, and it was loud, chaotic, and deliberately upside down.