Long before Christmas, Romans marked the darkest days of the year with Saturnalia, a midwinter festival honoring the god Saturn. It was celebrated during the late Roman Republic and Imperial periods, beginning in 164 BCE and lasting well into the 4th century CE.

Held in mid to late December, Saturnalia temporarily reversed social norms. Enslaved people were granted freedoms, gambling was permitted, and ordinary rules of behavior were relaxed. Public business paused, schools closed, and the city leaned into feasting, gift-giving, and loud celebration.

Homes were decorated with evergreen branches, symbolizing life enduring through winter. Small gifts called sigillaria were exchanged, and candles were given as tokens of light returning after the solstice.

When Christianity spread across the Roman world, many Saturnalia customs did not disappear. Instead, they were absorbed, reshaped, and redirected into later winter celebrations. The dates, greenery, candles, and emphasis on generosity helped form the foundation of what eventually became Christmas traditions.