Saturnalia was a pagan festival celebrated in ancient Rome in honor of the god Saturn. The festival took place in December and lasted for seven days, from the 17th to the 23rd. It was a time of joy and revelry, during which normal social norms and hierarchies were temporarily suspended. During Saturnalia, Romans engaged in various activities and rituals, including feasting, gambling, gift-giving, and role reversal. Masters would serve their slaves, and slaves were given the opportunity to mock and criticize their masters without fear of retribution. It was a time of social equality and freedom, where everyone could indulge in excess and pleasure.

Saturnalia

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• English Heritage - What was the Roman festival of Saturnalia?
• Ancient History Encycloepdia - Saturnalia
• Encyclopedia Romana - Saturnalia
• Ancient Origins - Saturnalia: The December Festival of Joy and Merriment in Ancient Rome

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• English Heritage - What was the Roman festival of Saturnalia?
• Ancient History Encycloepdia - Saturnalia
• Encyclopedia Romana - Saturnalia
• Ancient Origins - Saturnalia: The December Festival of Joy and Merriment in Ancient Rome

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Saturnalia, the most popular of Roman festivals. Dedicated to the Roman god Saturn, the festival’s influence continues to be felt throughout the Western world.

The Temple of Saturn, with the Temple of Vespasian (also called Temple of Vespasian and Titus; right foreground), among the ruins of the Roman Forum, Rome. (more)

Originally celebrated on December 17, Saturnalia was extended first to three and eventually to seven days. The date has been connected with the winter sowing season, which in modern Italy varies from October to January. Remarkably like the Greek Kronia, it was the liveliest festival of the year. All work and business were suspended. Slaves were given temporary freedom to say and do what they liked, and certain moral restrictions were eased. The streets were infected with a Mardi Gras madness; a mock king was chosen (Saturnalicius princeps); the seasonal greeting io Saturnalia was heard everywhere. The closing days of the Saturnalia were known as Sigillaria, because of the custom of making, toward the end of the festival, presents of candles, wax models of fruit, and waxen statuettes which were fashioned by the sigillarii or manufacturers of small figures in wax and other media. The cult statue of Saturn himself, traditionally bound at the feet with woolen bands, was untied, presumably to come out and join the fun.

The influence of the Saturnalia upon the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year has been direct. The fact that Christmas was celebrated on the birthday of the unconquered sun (dies solis invicti nati) gave the season a solar background, connected with the kalends of January (January 1, the Roman New Year) when houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and presents were given to children and the poor. Concerning the gift candles, the Romans had a story that an old prophecy bade the earliest inhabitants of Latium send heads to Hades and phota to Saturn. The ancient Latins interpreted this to mean human sacrifices, but, according to legend, Hercules advised using lights (phos means “light” or “man” according to accent) and not human heads.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.

Saturnalia

Saturnalia, held in mid-December, is an ancient Roman pagan festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn. Because of when the holiday occurred—near the winter solstice—Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas, such as wreaths, candles, feasting and gift-giving.

It was a time of social equality and freedom, where everyone could indulge in excess and pleasure. Homes were decorated with evergreen boughs and lights, symbolizing hope and rebirth. Many ancient Roman traditions associated with Saturnalia, such as exchanging small gifts and hanging decorative wreaths, have been incorporated into Christmas celebrations.

What Is Saturnalia?

Saturnalia, the most popular holiday on the ancient Roman calendar, derived from older farming-related rituals of midwinter and the winter solstice, especially the practice of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter sowing season.

The pagan celebration of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time, began as a single day, but by the late Republic (133-31 B.C.) it had expanded to a weeklong festival beginning December 17. (On the Julian calendar, which the Romans used at the time, the winter solstice fell on December 25.)

WATCH: The Winter Solstice

Saturnalia was also a time for religious ceremonies and sacrifices to Saturn. Temples were open, and people would offer prayers and offerings to the god of agriculture and fertility. It was believed that by appeasing Saturn, the Roman community could secure blessings and protection for the coming year. While Saturnalia was widely celebrated and embraced by the Roman society, there were some who criticized it for its excessive indulgence and immorality. Philosophers and conservative figures saw it as a threat to Roman values and traditions. Nonetheless, Saturnalia continued to be celebrated for centuries until it was eventually replaced by Christian festivities. The pagan roots of Saturnalia remained influential throughout the history of Western civilization, as many Christmas traditions, such as gift-giving, feasting, and merry-making, can be traced back to this ancient Roman festival..

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3. Michael - 2/5

I found "Saturnalia Pagan" to be overly pretentious and lacking in substance. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their vocabulary and literary prowess than telling a compelling story. The flowery and convoluted prose made it difficult to decipher the actual events occurring in the book. Additionally, the characters were shallow and lacked relatability, making it hard to care about their fates. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be clever and profound, resulting in a disjointed and frustrating reading experience.

The Influence of Saturnalia Pagan on Modern Winter Celebrations