ante diem xii kalendas januarias

• Saturnalia continues (day 5)
• Divalia Angeronae — Angerona was a goddess named for the disease angina (she apparently had remedies for it) who also represented the ‘secret name’ of Rome, which presumably could not be uttered out of fear it would give Rome’s enemies the opportunity to ‘call out’ Rome’s own gods (i.e. to get them to abandon the city). Secret rituals, of course, would honour her on this date …
• 69 A.D. — Vespasian is officially recognized as emperor by the Senate
• 253 A.D. — martyrdom of Themistocles

• Saturnalia continues (day 4) – major, popular festival in honour of Saturn with banquets, the wearing of soft caps (pilei), and general good cheer. Shops and schools were closed, gambling was legally permitted, gifts were exchanged and masters might even wait on their servants. Obviously this festival is often seen as a precursor to our modern-day Christmas celebrations.
• 69 A.D. — supporters of the Flavians capture Rome; murder of the emperor-for-a-little-while Vitellius

• Saturnalia (day 3) – major, popular festival in honour of Saturn with banquets, the wearing of soft caps (pilei), and general good cheer. Shops and schools were closed, gambling was legally permitted, gifts were exchanged and masters might even wait on their servants. Obviously this festival is often seen as a precursor to our modern-day Christmas celebrations.
• Opalia — unknown rituals in honour of Ops, the wife of Saturn
• rites in honour of Juventas (= Hebe?) — a somewhat mysterious festival, probably connected to Roman ‘coming of age’ rituals
• 69 A.D. — a major fire on the Capitoline hill in Rome, caused by Vitellius‘ troops
• 307 A.D. — martyrdom of Nemesius of Alexandria and Thea

• Saturnalia (day 2) – major, popular festival in honour of Saturn with banquets, the wearing of soft caps (pilei), and general good cheer. Shops and schools were closed, gambling was legally permitted, gifts were exchanged and masters might even wait on their servants. Obviously this festival is often seen as a precursor to our modern-day Christmas celebrations …
• 69 A.D. — emperor-for-a-little-while Vitellius abdicates, but changes his mind later
• 1809 – Death of Alexander Adam, an eminent Classicist

• Saturnalia (day 1) — major, popular festival in honour of Saturn with banquets, the wearing of soft caps (pilei), and general good cheer. Shops and schools were closed, gambling was legally permitted, gifts were exchanged and masters might even wait on their servants. Obviously this festival is often seen as a precursor to our modern-day Christmas celebrations …
• 246 B.C.E. — the Torah is translated into Greek (obviously not in one day)