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Before there was Christmas, there was Saturnalia. Throughout history there has always been some sort of celebration surrounding the winter solstice in December, but those crazy Romans - the original party animals - took the celebrations to new heights with the introduction of Saturnalia - the ultimate party.
It is now the month of December, when the greatest part of the city is in a bustle. Loose reins are given to public dissipation; everywhere you may hear the sound of great preparations, as if there were some real difference between the days devoted to Saturn and those for transacting business....Were you here, I would willingly confer with you as to the plan of our conduct; whether we should eve in our usual way, or, to avoid singularity, both take a better supper and throw off the toga.
Seneca the Younger, circa 50 AD
Saturnalia was centered about the Roman god, Saturn. The festival began with the loosening of symbolic woolen bonds around the feet of the statue of Saturn in the great temple. Then the week long party began. During the festival, trees were decorated. They were not brought inside, but festooned where they grew. Homes were decorated with greenery, especially holly boughs, intended to honour Saturn, the god of agriculture.
Presents were exchanged. It was a time when all were considered equal, slaves and masters, children and adults. Roles were often reversed. Clothing was optional during Saturnalia, and small peaked caps normally only worn by freed slaves, were worn by everyone. Groups of carollers, clad only in the small caps, were a common sight.
Early Christians were horrified by the debauchery of it all, but eventually decided if you can't beat them, join them, and made Saturnalia into a celebration of the birth of Christ. Although the name of the honoured diety may have changed, most of the ancient rituals survive to this day. And the festive greeting Io, Saturnalia! (pronounced Yo, Saturnalia!), was changed to the familiar Merry Christmas.
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