Elect A “Lord Of Misrule”, Gamble And Play Games… This symbolic act let all around get loose! 5. Often shaped like human beings or animals they usually boasted enlarged sexual organs, another act of rebellious debauchery!Ī huge public feat would occur at the Temple of Saturn in Rome, and people would cut loose the feet of the statue of Saturn, which were usually bound in wool. Eat Cookies Shaped Like People…Īs part of the Saturnalia rites the Pagans ate little biscuits, which we now know as gingerbread men and Christmas cookies. The ornaments were hung in greenery as decoration – much like our trees today. Traditional gifts that were given were ‘cerei’, white candles signifying the light after solstice and ornaments called ‘sigillariae’. Someone’s A Fan of Diptyque In Our Household… In ancient times, Pagans used branches to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it helped them think of the spring to come. Using trees to decorate at this time of year has been a ritual for thousands of years. Erect Trees, Hang Holly, Berries And Mistletoe To Honour Saturn… Show your liberation with a pillbox hat or whatever you can lay your hands on. You could even wear a Santa hat, as it looks very much the same as his hat… 2. On Saturnalia, all slaves would be considered ‘free for the holidays’, and so would wear this cap during their time off! The cap of freedom, the pillleum was a hat worn by slaves who had been liberated. Slaves were treated as equals and allowed to wear nice clothes, and sit at the head of the table! Appreciate your finest threads and dress up lavishly during this week. However at this time of year they stepped into brightly coloured fabrics – traditionally red, purple and gold. Wear Your Best, Bright Clothes!īack in Roman times the aristocracy usually wore conservative clothes. Well, the planet Saturn is in his home sign – Capricorn, making for a very Saturnian Christmas… Here are some of the customs I’ve found, which you might want to include in your holidays this year! 1. #Lord of misrule saturnalia how to#Still, Saturnalia was so popular it was celebrated in Rome as late as the eighth century – and I think the flavour of festivities reflect our inclinations today! How To Celebrate Saturnalia – For Saturn’s Sake… Early Christian authorities in particular objected, and when the Church settled on the nativity the Christians began to push back, nominating the 25th as a sombre ‘holy day’ of peace and quiet. Not all Romans liked this pagan winter holiday, however, and it was noted that “the mob went out of control”. The slackened rules permitted the slaves to gamble too – even to bid for their freedom. It was very much about generosity to the poor, revelry and a publicly nominated holiday for all to enjoy. The masters served the slaves and treated them to a banquet, adults served children, and all men worshipped together. The Romans celebrated in remembrance of a legendary Golden Age, a time in Italy when Saturn reigned as King, teaching the inhabitants agriculture, and giving them laws. Slavery was a thing unknown in The Golden Age, and therefore another key part of Saturnalia celebrations was equality – a change in attitude, and role reversal. Merry making of ancient Roman culture included giving gifts, feasting, party games and even decorating a tree – so very much like Christmas. Originally held on December 17th but later expanded with festivities from the 17th through to December 23rd, Satrunalia was a time to cease all things considered ‘serious’.Įmperor Augustus (27BC – AD14) shortened the week to a three-day holiday, as it was all getting a bit too rowdy, raucous and chaotic, interrupting the working week. Read Beauty Rituals For The Winter Solstice, here. Many of our Christmas traditions come from this celebration – see below! A pagan festival, Saturnalia hails from ancient Rome and was held in honour of the god Saturn(equivalent of the Greek Cronus).
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