Roman Saturnalia Festival

The Roman Festival of Saturnalia was a time of great revelry and celebration in ancient Rome. According to historians at Wikipedia, it was an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December in the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities until 19 December. By the 1st century BC, the celebration had been extended until 23 December, for a total of seven days of festivities.

The Origins of Saturnalia

The festival of Saturnalia originated as a one-day festival celebrated on the 17th of December to honor Saturn, the ancient god of agriculture and the harvest. As described by the Roman poet Catullus as o optimo dierum, or ‘the best of all days,’ this Roman festival began life as a way to honor the god of agriculture and the harvest. Britannica states that the Temple of Saturn, with the Temple of Vespasian, was among the ruins of the Roman Forum, Rome.

Saturnalia was a time of great feasting and merriment, with historians at History noting that it was the most popular holiday of the Roman year. The festival involved the exchange of gifts, particularly candles, and the consumption of large amounts of food and drink. It was also a time of role reversals, with slaves being treated as equals and even being allowed to dine with their masters.

The Festivities of Saturnalia

The festivities of Saturnalia were legendary, with the University of Chicago noting that celebrants shouted Io, Saturnalia at a riotous feast in the temple. The festival involved a range of activities, including feasting, singing, and dancing. It was also a time of gift-giving, with Through Eternity stating that the gifts were often candles, which were seen as a symbol of the light and warmth of the sun.

Some of the key features of the Saturnalia festivities included:

• Feasting and drinking: The festival involved the consumption of large amounts of food and drink, with a focus on luxury and excess.
• Gift-giving: The exchange of gifts, particularly candles, was an important part of the festival.
• Role reversals: Slaves were treated as equals and even allowed to dine with their masters during the festival.
• Singing and dancing: The festival involved a range of musical and dance performances, with a focus on revelry and merriment.

The Legacy of Saturnalia

The festival of Saturnalia had a significant impact on Western holiday traditions, including Christmas. Many of the traditions and customs associated with Christmas, such as the exchange of gifts and the consumption of large amounts of food and drink, have their roots in the festival of Saturnalia. Britannica notes that the festival was celebrated until the 4th century AD, when it was suppressed by the Christian church.

Some of the key ways in which Saturnalia influenced Christmas include:

1. The exchange of gifts: The tradition of exchanging gifts during Christmas has its roots in the festival of Saturnalia, where gifts were exchanged as a symbol of friendship and goodwill.
2. Feasting and drinking: The consumption of large amounts of food and drink during Christmas has its roots in the festival of Saturnalia, where feasting and drinking were an important part of the celebrations.
3. Role reversals: The tradition of role reversals during Christmas, such as the lord of misrule, has its roots in the festival of Saturnalia, where slaves were treated as equals and even allowed to dine with their masters.