Saturnalia

Nice video from Discovery News of a classics professor from Loyola College explaining Saturnalia as the roots of Christmas. 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

"For how many years shall this festival abide! Never shall age destroy so holy a day! While the hills of Latium remain and father Tiber, while thy Rome stands and the Capitol thou hast restored to the world, it shall continue."

I would say so, judging from the spreading of its modern incarnation, Christmas, even within my own lifetime. Did Christianity co-opt Saturnalia, or did Saturnalia co-opt Christianity? Sometimes it's really hard to tell. :)

Be of good cheer--it's the most wonderful time of the year!