TheSaturnals are the pagan face of Christmas and children love how they like Christmas. The Christian celebration takes most of its usual traditions from the Roman Saturnals and for families who do not want to have a party with religious nuances it is a very similar alternative.
Recently a friend told me that a relative had told the girl a very unpleasant thing: "If you are not a Christian, you cannot celebrate Christmas." Although I am sure that it is an unusual comment (and with a bad intention of not very Christmas) the truth is that Christmas is, as I already told you the other day when I talked about Undefeated Sun, the heiress of older parties of those that have taken part of their traditions and it doesn't hurt to know in case you have any rude family like my friend's or if you are uncomfortable celebrating a religious holiday.
Saturnalia It was celebrated in Rome from December 17 to 23, in honor of Saturn as the god of crops. There was a great banquet and public party, financed by the State, that opened 5 days of parties in which there was waste, eaters and left much more freedom to the slaves. The houses were adorned with candles, plants, flowers and, with what the Romans liked, surely garlands of colors. Families visited and gave gifts.
Later this type of party, culturally deeply rooted in Rome, was included in the Christian holidays. So if someone tells the children that they can't celebrate Christmas if they are not Christians, you can always tell them the history of the Saturnals, which are the pagan ancestor of Christmas and in them there was party, family, ornaments, banquets and many gifts too.
