How to Celebrate Saturnalia

Last Updated: December 12, 2023

Saturnalia is the Roman festival celebrated on the 17th of December honoring Saturnus, who introduced agriculture and the arts of civilized life. It was the season when agricultural work was completed; a sort of joyous Thanksgiving-type holiday of relaxation and merriment. During Saturnalia, businesses, courts and schools were closed.

This is a guide to celebrating a reconstructed Saturnalia today.

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These are green and gold.
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Garlands or wreaths are ideal. Add golden cutouts of the sun or golden pinecones, nuts, acorns.

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If you have living trees on your own property, hang them with sun symbols, stars, and faces of the God Janus (who watches over the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one). In Roman times, trees were not brought indoors but were decorated where they grew. It is also possible to decorate living plants in pots.
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in the shapes of fertility symbols, suns and moons and stars, and herd animal shapes. You can make your own cookie cutters if you're keen! Use green and/or gold food colors or sprinkles.
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This is pronounced "eeyo sa-tur-NAL-ee-uh".
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Saturnalia is a joyous holiday and Romans shared it with friends and family.
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Give small presents, including presents of food or sweets, or candles or lamps. Attach a clever note or a short witty poem to your gifts. Read the Roman poet Martial ("Xenia" and "Apophoreta") for some authentic examples from Roman times.
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Safely light a candle there. Display and decorate a statue of Saturnus, if you have one, or a photo of a statue or painting of him.
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Celebrate freedom and destroy hierarchies. Saturnalia was a type of opposite-day in which slaves could enjoy luxury alongside their masters. You may want to wear a pileus, a conical felt cap that in the classical world represented freedom.

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Why did the Romans just all of the sudden decide to celebrate Saturnalia one year?

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It wasn't sudden. It was developed over centuries to become a major public holiday with free games and entertainment. After Christianity becomes the state religion - 4th century CE - previous religious beliefs were forcibly abolished and their major festivals subsumed in order to maintain popular seasonal festivals. Saturnalia became Christmas.

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Where is Saturnalia celebrated?

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During the Roman period, Saturnalia was celebrated across the Roman Empire. Today, however, it is celebrated by reconstructionist pagans around the world.

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Did Jesus and his family celebrate Saturnalia?

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Yes it is possible that Jesus and his family celebrated Saturnalia as Jesus lived during the Roman period.

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Tips

This is not a time to wear your toga . A toga is formal wear and Saturnalia is a relaxed holiday. Romans wore something called a synthesis , but you can wear a tunic too.

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Warnings

If you light candles or oil lamps , use caution and common sense.

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