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Saturnalia

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Saturnalia

Roman festival of the god Saturn, originally celebrated on 19 December, but later extended to a period of seven days. It arose probably from rites connected with winter sowing, but in historical times was a season of popular merrymaking.

The Christian festival of Christmas adopted several of the pagan traditions of the Saturnalia, such as decorating with greenery and lights and the exchange of gifts.

Among the principal features of the Saturnalia were the suspension of all business, closing of schools, postponement of executions and (when possible) of military operations, temporary licence given to slaves, and the right to gamble with dice, which was normally forbidden.
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