For those not familiar, Saturn Returns are thought to be a time of great transformation as we shift into our more adult roles and gain clarity about our life’s purpose. Why? Saturn moves from Capricorn into Aquarius on December 17th, signaling the start of my Saturn Return. It is worth noting that the priest’s head was uncovered for this ritual-perhaps a nod to the holiday’s tradition of role reversal, as Roman priests typically covered their heads.Īs a bit of an aside, this Saturnalia feels particularly meaningful to me. This took place at the Temple of Saturn, and involved unbinding the feet of a Saturn statue as a symbol of liberation. That said, there was of course a highly important religious component to the ancient Saturnalia celebrations.
Just remember that Saturn is the reason for the season 😉 The interior of the home would be decorated with evergreen wreaths and garland, a common symbol of the Winter Solstice across various European cultures.Įating, drinking, singing, gift-giving, decorating with evergreens and candles…it all sounds a bit familiar, doesn’t it? Because so many of Saturnalia’s traditions have carried over into our modern Christmas celebrations, I believe that even pagans who aren’t “out of the closet” can easily celebrate Saturnalia. In terms of aesthetics, brightly colored clothing was the norm during Saturnalia.
It is believed that low-value gifts may have correlated with high-value relationships-the very first gag gifts! Small terracotta figurines and candles (a symbol of the light returning after the Winter Solstice) were typical gifts, along with other cheap items. Gift-giving was another common theme of Saturnalia. Io Saturnalia was the official salutation of the festival, often used after singing or joke-telling. Drunkenness and other self-indulgent behaviors became the norm. Individuals spent the day drinking, gambling (normally discouraged in Rome’s strict society), singing, and feasting. Households elected a “King of the Saturnalia” (also known the Lord of Misrule in modern times) who was tasked with causing mischief and creating chaos, usually by yelling commands that other partygoers had to obey. Role reversal was a common theme for instance, slaves were typically served dinner before their masters, and may have even been served by the masters themselves. The courts of law closed, and social norms were flipped upside down. Traditionally, Saturnalia was a day when all work came to halt. Saturnalia-and the time of the Winter Solstice-is a celebration of both sides of Saturn: the discipline and grueling work that we have completed throughout the year (especially relevant for an agricultural society like Ancient Rome, yet still meaningful today), rewarded with a period of rest and merrymaking.īecause indeed, that is exactly what Saturnalia is about: merrymaking.
SATURNALIA HISTORY HOW TO
He taught the people about agriculture and how to save their money, so they might never experience hunger or poverty again-the payout of discipline and restraint. To the Ancient Romans, Saturn was also an agricultural god and the ruler of a great Golden Age, a time of abundance and perfect peace. But there is much more to Saturn than this narrative! Those of you who are interested in astrology may know Saturn (the planet) as the Greater Malefic, and indeed he is associated with harsh lessons such as limitations, karma, structure, discipline, and sometimes decay or destruction. Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival held on December 17th in honor of the god Saturn. Yule may be the most well-known pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice, but it is certainly not the only one-nor is it the only one that lent several of its traditions to Christmas (because yes, many of our modern-day Christmas traditions have pagan roots).
0 kommentar(er)
