This equality was temporary, of course and Petronius speaks Meal time in remembrance of an earlier golden age thought to Slaves were treated as equals,Īllowed to wear their masters' clothing, and be waited on at Within the family,Ī Lord of Misrule was chosen. Slave that symbolized the freedom of the season. The pilleus, a felt cap normally worn by the manumitted Instead of the toga, lessįormal dinner clothes ( synthesis) were permitted, as was "guest gifts" which were given at that time of year.ĭuring the holiday, restrictions were relaxed and the social Martial wrote Xenia and Apophoreta for the Saturnalia.īoth were published in December and intended to accompany the Light after the solstice, and small earthenware figurines ( sigillaria). Wax candles ( cerei), perhaps to signify the returning Visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly To his room while the rest of the household celebrated. Go in pleasures." Pliny the Younger writes that he retired Catullus describes it as "the best of days,"Īnd Seneca complains that the "whole mob has let itself The Saturnalia was the most popular holiday of the
Saturnalia gif full#
Still, everyone seems to have continued to celebrate for a full To three days, so the civil courts would not have to be closedĪny longer than necessary, and Caligula extended it to five. In Cicero's time, the Saturnalia lasted seven days,įrom December 17-23. Afterwards, according to Macrobius, the celebrants There was a public banquet, which Livy says was introduced inĢ17 BC (there also may have been a lectisternium, a banquetįor the god in which its image is placed in attendance, as ifĪ guest). On that day to symbolize the liberation of the god. Of Saturn, the oldest temple recorded by the pontifices, wasĭedicated on the Saturnalia, and the woolen bonds whichįettered the feet of the ivory cult statue within were loosened Saturn, himself, was identified with Kronos, and sacrificed toĪccording to Greek ritual, with the head uncovered. In the Roman calendar, the Saturnalia was designatedĪ holy day, or holiday, on which religious rites were performed. Honoring Ops, who personified abundance and the fruits of the The Consualia, which celebrated the opening of the granariesĪnd was in honor of Consus, god of the granary, and the Opalia, Ian.), midway between two other agricultural festivals: Saturnalia officially was celebrated on December 17 (a.d. The god of seed and sowing, was honored with a festival.
The winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian calendar), Saturnus, Should have finished his autumn planting. By the beginning of December, writes Columella, the farmer
0 kommentar(er)
