In pre-Christian Rome, Pagans celebrated the holiday of Saturnalia, which ran from 17th to the 25th December. It was in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and featured nakedness, drunkenness, lawlessness and human sacrifice. 100 Years later, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which resulted in December 25th being declared the ‘winter solstice’. In 3 B.C., the birth of Christ occurred in Bethlehem, which was reputed to have been of virgin birth; 33 years later he was crucified in Jerusalem. The Roman Emperor Elagabalus introduced the holiday of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun), which was also celebrated on December 25th and was also heavily promoted by Emperor Aureilan around 50 years later.