From Rome to the “holidays”

​Goal: to see how Ancient Rome influences us, and to critique our culture.
Please take notes and answer the questions. Quiz when we are done.

​from Rome to the “holidays”

Fill in the Blanks

Outline

1. Two Roman holidays: Saturnalia and Sol Invictus.

2. Jesus and Christmas.

3. Todays “holidays”

Multiple Select

Two ancient Roman holidays may have influenced Christmas. What were they?

• Saturnalia

• Lupercalia

• Sol Invictus

• Rudolph

• Eleusinian mysteries

Roman holiday.
Dec. 17–23.
Partying, giving gifts.
Dominus, domina served the servants.
Saturn: god of a mythical time when everyone was equal and there was plenty to eat.

​Saturnalia

Multiple Select

When was the Roman holiday of Saturnalia celebrated and what was its main theme? Choose DUO answers.

• Honoring the birth of Jesus.

• December 17–23

• Partying and giving gifts.

• November 27

• Celebrating the unbeaten sun.

Multiple Choice

During Saturnalia, the dominus et domina would serve dinner to…

• fīliās et fīliōs, daughters and sons.

• ancillās et servōs, servants.

• nautās et agricolās, sailors and farmers

• canēs et fēlēs, dogs and cats

Roman holiday: Dec. 25.
"Unbeaten sun:" a sun god.
Made official by emperor Aurelian in AD 274.
Winter solstice: sun at lowest in sky, but starts to return and days get longer.

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​Sol Invictus

Multiple Select

When was the Roman holiday of Sol Invictus celebrated and what was its main theme? Choose DUO answers.

• Honoring the birth of Jesus.

• December 25

• Partying and giving gifts.

• November 27

• Celebrating the unbeaten sun.

Multiple Choice

Sol Invictus is near the winter solstice: on this day, December 21, what happens?

• The sun is at its lowest in the sky.

• The earth is at its coldest temperature.

• It is the longest day of the year.

• The days begin to get shorter.

Born in Palestine under Roman control.
Gospel of Luke: born during time of emperor Augustus, about 4 BC.
No one knows what day.
He was a Jewish teacher and healer.

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​Jesus

Palestine

Belief in Jesus, Christianity, spread quickly in the empire, became the main religion.
Christians chose Dec. 25th as his birthday in the AD 300's.
It became a holy day (holiday).

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​Christmas

Multiple Select

When is the Christian holiday of Christmas celebrated and what is its main theme? Choose DUO answers.

• Honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.

• December 25

• Partying

• November 27

• Celebrating the return of the sun.

Hotspot

Where is Palestine, the place where Jesus lived his earthly life, which the Romans controlled as part of their empire?

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

Why was early Christianity able to spread so fast?

• Because of social media.

• Because of the barbarian invasions.

• Because of fast horses and ships.

• Because of the Roman Empire.

Now let's review with a few questions about the Roman holidays and Christmas.

Reorder

Please put in order by time, oldest to most recent:

• Saturnalia: Roman holiday

• Sol Invictus: Roman holiday

• Christmas: Christian holiday

• “The holidays” in American culture.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Select

quis est? Choose DUO answers, please.

• Saturnus

• Sol Invictus

• Iēsus Christus

• god of a mythical time when everyone was equal and had plenty to eat.

• The unbeaten Sun

Multiple Select

quis est? Choose DUO answers, please.

• Saturnus

• Sol Invictus

• Iēsus Christus

• god of a mythical time when everyone was equal and had plenty to eat.

• The unbeaten sun.

Multiple Select

quis est fīlius parvus? Choose DUO answers, please.

• Saturnus

• Sol Invictus

• Iēsus Christus

• The unconquered sun

• A Jewish teacher and healer who lived in first-century Palestine under Roman occupation.

Multiple Choice

When did Christians start celebrating Christmas?

• 1975

• When Jesus was born, about 2,000 years ago.

• AD 300’s, about 1700 years ago.

Next are 2 Gospel quotes we have studied.

Multiple Choice

“Parāte viam Dominī”

• “The one who learns, leads,” the TBLA motto.

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” a teaching of Jesus in the Bible.

• “Prepare the way of the Lord,” a reference to Jesus in the Bible.

Multiple Choice

“Beātī pauperēs spiritū”

• “The one who learns, leads,” the TBLA motto.

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” a teaching of Jesus in the Bible.

• “Prepare the way of the Lord,” a reference to Jesus in the Bible.

Americans are diverse, not just Christian.
We give gifts and party, like Saturnalia.
Businesses make money off of gift-giving, so this now has all the importance. The religious aspect has faded. Buying so much stuff hurts people and the planet. Opposite of Jesus, who was poor and chose a simple life.

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​The American "holidays"

Multiple Choice

What has Christmas morphed into in American culture?

• A season of self-sacrifice and prayer.

• Buying too much stuff.

• A celebration of peace among diverse religions.

How has ancient Rome influenced our holidays?
What do you think of "the holidays" today? Are they good, bad, or both? Why? Please write a summary of 5 to 7 sentences.

​nunc scrībe in tabula. (Now please write in your notebook):