#Thread Pagan Origins of #Christmas
In pre-Christian era Pagan celebrated Seasonal festivals around the winter solstice ("Symbol of rebirth of Sun or Son") later converted to #Christianity.
SantaClause, Decorating trees, Jesus birth also find its association with 25th Dec.
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#Saturnalia was one of Pagan ancient Roman festival in honor of the god Saturn, held from 17 December to 23 December. It was most popular holiday in the Roman calendar.
Pic By Themadchopper, Antoine-François Callet #Christmas
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During #Saturnalia celebrations
1.All work and business were suspended
2.Slaves were given temporary freedom to say and do what they liked
3.People would wear a cap of freedom – the pilleum –
usually worn by slave
4.People were permitted to gamble in public
5.Chariot racing
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#Saturnalia was the result of the merging of 3 winter festivals over the centuries. 1. Day of Saturn – the god of seeds and sowing 2. Bruma - Day of a feast day celebrating the shortest day 3. Opalia- feast day dedicated to Saturn’s wife
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217 BC a huge public feast was arranged at the oldest temple in Rome, the Temple of Saturn.
Macrobius confirms this, and says that the "rowdy" participants would spill out onto the street, with the participants shouting, “Io #Saturnalia!”
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Closing days of the #Saturnalia were known as "#Sigillaria" because of the custom of making, toward the end of the festival, presents of candles, wax models of fruit, and waxen statuettes which were fashioned by the Sigillarii
#Yule is another pagan festival that had customs absorbed into the Christian #Christmas was the festival of #Yule by Germanic people.
The familiar custom of burning the Yule log dates back to earlier solstice celebrations and the tradition of bonfires
Src:Public domain
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Another association of 25th Dec is the birth date of #Jesus
However, It was first identified as date of Birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221. For long time 6th January was celebrated as Jesus b'day
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336CE, the church settled 25 December as the date of Christ’s nativity. Christians wanted to keep #Christmas distinguished from Saturnalia traditions such as gambling, drinking, worshipping god.
Christmas become a major #Christian festival in 9th century.
Src @Britannica
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Decorating #christmastrees with candles is another celebration on #Christmaseve. celebration was first known in Strasbourg in 1605.
Trees were decorated with 24 candles as 24th opening to 25th Dec from 1st Dec.
The no. of candles later reduced to 4
Src @Britannica
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Santa Clause 'Saint Nicholas' 'Father Christmas' is said to be 4th Century Greek Bishop of Myra.
Martin Luther propagated gifting to children in #Christmas to focus children interest to Christ rather than Saints.
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Irresistible surge of #paganism worldwide as expressed in movies like Avatar, Thor and the Harry Potter series. The success of such movies worldwide suggests a deep desire among people for a more spiritually satisfying life with pantheism. indiafacts.org/pagan-revival-…
Have you ever wondered why the topic of dinosaurs in India seems absent from common knowledge?
In truth, dinosaurs thrived in the Indian peninsula 250 to 65 million years ago, and they were unlike any others seen globally.
Sadly, many people, including myself, aren't aware of this, which is why I'm sharing this #thread.
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The very first dinosaur discovery, Titanosaurus Indicus, unearthed from the Deccan Traps in Jabalpur, dates back to 1832 and is 70 million years old. After vanishing in 1877, it made a dramatic comeback, resurfacing in the Shiwalik Gallery of the Indian Museum.
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Titanosaurus blanfordi was 2nd dino remain found in Pisdura, Maharashtra.
Rajasaurus - Regal Lizard remains were found in Kheda, Gujarat and Jabalpur MP. This 30 feet giant roamed in India around 70-65 Mya
IMO, History is variable and rewritten by the rulers.
In this series here's a brief thread on an expected spurt of Krishna and Radha's relationship following the Mongolian incursion. The artwork, largely from Kangra, Sirmaur, and Mandi, portrays Krishna observing Radha, glancing at other gopis, or caught in moments of affection.
Take a couple of minutes to explore this intriguing twist. If you believe that these scene are from any epic pl do share
#Thread 🧵 Pic representational
This earliest find is after Akbar started interpolation.
In the scene,
- Krishna Kisses Radha.
- The crown are typical marriage crown during the period.
- There are persian vases placed in the back and front of the scene
The Page from the Boston Rasikapriya (Lover's Breviary)
India (Rajasthan, Amber?)
ca.1610 (Mughal rule)
Not sure which Purana mentioned this scene where Krishna can be seen making love on a swing in the central circle.
inscription: śrī ṭhākurā rī kṛḍā rā a. inscription_translation: [ Love] Games of Thakur [Krishna], page 131
Regardless of the patent under the name Ludo by Britisher Alfred in 1896, Pachisi (25) has been played in India for over 5000 years. #Archaeology uncovers cultural appropriation.
Bhanpur (3000 bce), Banawali Haryana (3000bce), Chandraketugarh (200 bce), Modern
in 1938, the American toy and game company Transogram launched a widespread board game edition titled Game of India, which was subsequently advertised as Pa-Chiz-Si: The Game of India
In America, there is evidence for home-made boards and boards without a clear origin from the 1850s. A dubious story credits the invention of Parcheesi to Sam Loyd who supposedly sold the rights to the game for $10 at one point but since Sam Loyd was a notorious self-publicist and deceiver, it is probably best to ignore this account. The earliest definite record is that John Hamilton of the Hudson River Valley claimed copyright to the game in 1867. Rights were sold to one Albert Swift who then sold them on to Selchow and Righter in 1870 and this famous company trademarked the game in 1874. Parcheesi went on to become the bestselling game for Selchow & Richter Co. for decades.
The later 'Frustration" based on Ludo and initially published by Irwin Toy was made popular in many countries using the marketing muscle of MB Games (Hasbro) ' in a plastic incarnation featuring the gimmick of a centrally placed "pop-o-matic" dice roller.
There appears a native woman upper selling goods to seemingly a converted. The contrast between the converted and native is startling. However, both seems to be from poor class.
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In another scene, a woman slave is being auctioned by a Portugese. The woman appears to be poor and covers only her waist.
Thread exploring the tradition of 'Nose-Piercing in India. Some believe it's inherently Indian, although it was actually foreign to Indian customs 1000 years back. Let's dive in.
Female Beauty #Archaeohistories
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The first mention of nose-ring (for nose piercing) is in Old Testament when Abhraham's servant gives his daughter-in-law 'Rebekah' a golden nose-ring ("Shanf" in Hebrew). This practice of gifting rings to brides continues even today.
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Nose-Pin or नथ is expressed on sculptures paintings in Moghul period not before
Tavernier (c. 1638 ce) describes of Arabian woman wearing Nose-Pins while other Traveller 'Hanway' speaks irreverently of the 'nutt' is proof of Nose-pin of Arabic origin
Matrimonial connection between ancient Greece and modern India
The similarities between these two civilizations are striking, from fathers arranging marriages for their daughters to wedding rituals spanning several days.
Vases dating back to 500-400 BCE found in Greece and artifacts from 200 BCE-200 CE found in Chandraketugarh, Bengal hint at a connection.
Let's begin
#Thread #bookmark #Retweet
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Preparation for marriage | Finding the groom
A woman's guardian, or kyrios, was responsible for arranging her marriage, as she couldn't legally do it herself. She likely had some social contact with her future husband. Marriages within extended family groups, such as first cousins, uncles and nieces, second cousins, or half-siblings, were common.
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Preparation for marriage | The Dowry
In ancient Greek weddings, the first step was the dowry, provided by the woman's kyrios (guardian). It was usually given at the betrothal but could be delayed until the wedding ceremony if agreed upon.
The dowry often comprised money but could include items like furniture or, rarely, land. Non-monetary items were given a cash value. Land was seldom included, as men preferred to reserve it for their sons' inheritance.