Show r PAGAN CUSTOM OF RITE TE OF EXPIATION err F Feast east of Purification in Ancient An An- dent Rome I In the calendar of ancient Rome February 15 stood for the feast of purification when worshipers of the pagan gods Indulged In rites and ceremonies cere cere- ceremonies re- re monies monie of oC expiation The pagan observance observance ob ob- servance servance- although brief in duration was in some of its aspects similar In purpose to the modern Christian Lou Len Louen en ren season The Thc Roman Itoman was the most remarkable remarkable re re- of the feasts of the ancient Romans The lute love of oC the he present day s Italian HuBan for fl frequent quent religious observations observations observations saints saints' days a s 's and festivals festivals' may maybe maybe be e a heritage from those distant ancestors ancestors an nn- who worshiped the Innumerable innumerable able uble deities of ot their polytheistic faith These rites nn and amid feasts were says Gibbon Gibbon Gib Gib- bon the Detroit N News recalls closel closely interwoven with every circumstance of or business an and pleasure of public or 01 of or private life am and it seemed impossible to escape th the observance of them without with with- out Oct at the same time renouncing the commerce of mankind and all nil the time offices of ices of amusement and society To 10 avoid participation in these various vari vari- arlIUS various ous IUS festivities without thereby Incurring Incurring Incur Incur- ring popular or o official cIal displeasure and its accompanying punishment was one of the chief duet concerns of the call early Christians of or tome Rome There came a aline time line however when len the shoe was on I the other foot nut nUll and the lie triumphant Christians attached severe penalties to the observance of the lie old feasts The rune festival al f of purification became th the lie Christian Lenten season th the spring celebration of the flee pagans became the time Easter Laster of or the time C Christians ls 1 and the theDe J December De De- cember comber Saturnalia was superseded by Christmas |