Originally not an official festival, but celebrated by adherents to Mithraism as the birth of the new sun. The Emperor Aurelian was devoted to a single sun god and during his reign it became a public festival complete with chariot-racing in the Circus. He erected a temple to Sol Invictus in AD 274 How the …
Before 45 BC, the Roman calendar was a mess, and much of our so-called “knowledge” about it seems to be little more than guesswork. Originally, the year started on 1 March and consisted of only 304 days or 10 months (Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December).
Sun worship is the oldest form of common worship and reverence. Science has reduced our concept of the sun to a flaming ball of gas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity
https://www.northernway.org/mysteryschool/tag/perihelion/ JANUARY ESOTERIC HOLIDAYS Jan 1 – Jan 31 January/Janus – Dedicated to Old Roman God-Goddess Janus – Jana, who knows both past and future. Jan 2 thru 3 Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate / Hecate– who guides all through transitions and crisis. Jan 3 or 4 Earth Perihelion – when the Earth is closest to the Sun. (It is …
Ancient Roman Holidays & Festivals Compitalia – Late December or Early January Originally the Compitalia was a movable feast, one of the most important of the Feriae Conceptivae, whose dates were fixed by various presiding authorities including the consuls, praetor, priestly colleges or minor religious or political dignitaries. During the early Empire, its dates were …
By observing the body’s cycle superimposed over the calendar’s these sages and shamen made predictions based on their understanding of the celestial dynamics. As records and observations improved, the calendar has changed significantly and holidays moved to suit these observations. The heliocentric understanding of universe seemed absurd until Galileo re-interpreted the existing data into a new paradigm. …
the ancients realized this relationship through yoga, ritual and self study Read More »
How the Roman calendar celebrated Solar New Year over 2000 years ago is interesting. We still carry on many of the same traditions. Moreover, the Timing of the dates of celebration moved forward in time when our modern Gregorian calendar was set. Interestingly the holidays maintain their position even though the calendar moved around them. …
Holiday musings: Reversal of fortune is one of the most common themes of Christmas stories and movies. Stories of personal crisis and loves won and lost seems to be inherent in the season. You would be surprised to know that this idea dates back to over 2000 years ago to the celebration of Saturnalia where …
Ancient Roman Holidays & Festivals Saturnalia December 17 At first lasting only one day, Saturnalia was the Roman midwinter celebration of the Solstice* and the greatest of all the Roman annual holidays. In the late Republic it was extended to two or three days, celebrated over three days in the Augustan Empire and in the reign of Caligula extended …
http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/countdowns.html http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasonal_cusps.mp4 Until 500 years ago most people other than a few far-sighted philosophical scientists imagined the sun, the planets and the stars all revolved around a stationary earth. After all, the same heavenly track made by the sun during the day is the planetary passageway at night. Eventually, the earth was shown …
Saturnalia Winter Solstice in Pagan Rome by Selena Fox This was first published for a workshop at 1993 Circle Sanctuary Community Yule Festival. Timing of Saturnalia varied during the course of Roman history. began as feast days for Saturn (December 17) and Ops (December 19). with Julian calendar, Saturnalia on December 17 & 18; Opalia …