by Salma, age 9, asks how Christmas came about from Saturnalia, about Carthage, and Roman ruins
Dear Santa,
Ahlan from Tunis. My name is Salma and I am 9 years old. My history teacher told our class that long before Christmas existed at all, the ancient Romans held a huge midwinter festival with feasting, gift giving, and even a day when servants and masters swapped roles for fun, which sounded almost more chaotic than our own holidays.
My first question is: how did Christmas actually come about, considering all that older history?
My second question is geography: what ancient civilization’s ruins are found near Tunis?
My third question is from school: why does Tunisia have such well-preserved Roman ruins?
I left you baklawa and a small cup of mint tea.
Love, Salma, age 9, Tunis, Tunisia
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Salma, baklawa and mint tea made a wonderfully fragrant stop on my route, thank you. Now, to that fascinating Roman history, and your other questions.
How did Christmas actually come about?
Your teacher’s lesson was spot on. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia every December, a wild, joyful festival honouring the god Saturn, lasting about a week, filled with feasting, gift giving, decorating homes with greenery, and yes, that curious tradition of masters and servants briefly swapping roles for the celebration. When Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, church leaders eventually settled on the 25th of December, right around the same time as these older festivities, to mark the birth of Jesus. Over the following centuries, some of the joyful spirit and customs of Saturnalia, gift giving and festive decorating especially, blended naturally into the growing Christian celebration, helping shape the holiday into something recognisably similar to what we celebrate today.
What ancient civilization’s ruins are found near Tunis?
The ruins of ancient Carthage lie just outside Tunis, once a powerful Phoenician city and later a major Roman one, famous for its rivalry with Rome itself in wars fought over two thousand years ago.
Why does Tunisia have such well-preserved Roman ruins?
After Carthage fell to Rome, the Romans rebuilt extensively across the region, constructing grand cities, amphitheatres, and temples that still stand remarkably well today, including the enormous El Jem amphitheatre, one of the best preserved Roman structures anywhere in the world. Tunisia’s dry climate and centuries of careful preservation have helped protect this extraordinary ancient legacy.
Tell your teacher that lesson reached the North Pole, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
