Oh, and you may have a point about the solstice, in that that was a natural phenomenon that was well-known to the Romans. But I haven’t been able to find whether it was dedicated to a pagan deity.
It was interesting researching it on the Internet. There are so many different takes on the origins of December 25th. as Jesus’ birthday celebration. I’m just glad He came, not when.
Regards And Merry Christmas .....
Jane
It would have been a phenomenon well known to ancient astronomers, but would the average citizen of Roman have know about it or cared? I have not seen any evidence of that. If you have some source, could he please reference it. I would like to read it.
Some reference in literature would be helpful, but I am not aware of any thing in Plautus, Terence, Cicero, Catullus, Horace, Virgil, Livy, Seneca, or Juvenal. If December 21 was a big religious celebration, would it not stand to reason that the great Latin writers would have mentioned it.
And if December 21 was not a great religious celebration, what were the dates of the great religious celebrations of ancient Roman? Surely one of those great celebrations would have been a better date to celebrate Christmas than some obscure date with no celebration at all.