Search results
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through 19 December. By the 1st century B.C., the celebration had been extended through 23 December, for a total of seven days of festivities. [1]
Children were indulged by their parents; A mock king, the Saturnalicius princeps, was chosen to oversee the merriment. Such role reversal was not exclusive to slaves and masters. During Saturnalia, all citizens were equal.
Saturn's consort was his sister Ops, with whom he fathered Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Juno, Ceres and Vesta. Saturn was especially celebrated during the festival of Saturnalia each December, perhaps the most famous of the Roman festivals, a time of feasting, role reversals, free
18 paź 2024 · History of the Roman festival of Saturnalia, with treatment of the celebration and its influence on Christmas.
In the evenings, when the sun had already set in, guests were invited. During the event, a person was chosen as a Saturnalicius Princeps, or the “King of Saturnalia”. Usually, according to the custom of equality, the child or slave was chosen as the party’s king.
The ancient festival of Saturnalia was an annual celebration that turned the structured Roman society upside down, introducing a period of mirth and liberty that blurred the lines between master and servant, rich and poor.
5 gru 2017 · Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn, occurred in mid‑December. Saturnalia rituals later became Christmas traditions.