MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY - SATURNALIA

In pagan Rome, the celebration of the Winter Solstice began on December 17 with the feast of Saturn -- also called the Saturnalia. Through December 23rd, the Roman world engaged in merrymaking and the exchanging of gifts in honor of father sun and mother earth./font>

Saturn - equivalent to Greek Kronos the son of Uranus (Heaven or Sky-Father) and Gaea (Ops)Earth-Mother) and the youngest of the Twelve Titans , God of Agriculture; .

Ops - Mother Earth, Goddess of Plenty;  partner to Saturn and Consus. In the syncretic Roman polytheistic view, associated with their other great mother dieties, Cybele and Juno. The followers of Opis paid their vows sitting and touching the earth of whom she was goddess
Sol Invicta - Sun God; Feast of Sol Invicta, the Unconquered Sun, set in 274 A. D. (December 25) The dominate cult among Rome's elite during the rise of Christianity. A sophisticated use of archetypal symbols and rites of initiation to effect high moral standards; “temperance, self-control, and compassion -- even in victory”. A early model of Masonry which also has roots in the Egyptian temple system
Consus - God of Storebin of Harvested Grain. Consualia, end of sowing season festival (December 15).
Juventas - Dies JuvenalisGoddess of Young Manhood; related to Greek Hebe of Youthful Beauty. Coming of Age for Young Men (mid-December
Janus - God of Beginnings and Gates; Solar God of Daybreak; Creator God. Janus Day and Beginning of Calendar Year (January 1), set in 153 B.C.; again in 45 B.C.
Bacchus (Dionysus) Brumalia, Winter Solstice on pre-Julian calendar (December 25) originally the Greek winter holiday associated with Dionysus and wine. By the time of the winter Brumalia, the wine was ready to be poured into jars for drinking.
Christ Christmas (December 25), Christians move Christ's birthday to this date in 336 A.D.