SATURNALIA: Winter Solstice in Pagan Rome
* Observed
by: Ancient Romans
* Type:
Pagan, Historical
* Start
Date: December 17 of every year.
* End
Date: December 23 of every year.
* The
customary greeting for the occasion is a "io, Saturnalia!"
— io (pronounced "yo") being a Latin interjection related to
"ho" (as in "Ho, praise to Saturn").
Timing of Saturnalia
* varied
during the course of Roman history.
* began
as feast days for Saturn (December 17) and Ops (December 19).
* with
Julian calendar, Saturnalia on December 17 & 18; Opalia on December 19 &
20.
* during
the empire, extended to a week (December 17-23); longer with other holidays.
Associated holiday festivals
* Consualia,
end of sowing season festival (December 15).
* Dies
Juvenalis, Coming of Age for Young Men (mid-December).
* Feast
of Sol Invicta, the Unconquered Sun, set in 274 A. D. (December 25).
* Brumalia,
Winter Solstice on pre-Julian calendar (December 25).
* Christmas
(December 25), Christians move Christ's birthday to this date in 336 A.D.
* Janus
Day and Beginning of Calendar Year (January 1), set in 153 B.C.; again in 45
B.C.
* Compitalia,
blessing of the fields rural festival (January 3-5).
Deities honored around Winter Solsticetime
# Saturn - God of Agriculture; merged with the Greek Cronos.
# Ops - Goddes of Plenty; Mother Earth; partner to Saturn and Consus.
# Sol Invicta - Sun God; connected with the Persian Mithra, honored by Roman
soldiers.
# Consus - God of Storebin of Harvested Grain.
# Juventas - Goddess of Young Manhood; related to Greek Hebe of Youthful Beauty.
# Janus - God of Beginnings and Gates; Solar God of Daybreak; Creator God.
Celebrations included
* merry-making
* rest
and relaxation
* connections
with family and friends
* celebrating
beginning of Solar year
* prayers
for protection of Winter crops
*
honoring Deities
Legacies of Saturnalia in contemporary holiday
celebrations
* Religious
Rituals -- joining in spiritual community to honor the Divine.
*
Honored Figures -- Santa and Father Time -- Saturn; Holy Mother -- Ops.
*
Sacred Flames -- candles lit and new fires kindled to represent new Solar year.
*
Greens -- Holly given with gifts, homes decorated with wreaths and garlands.
*
Time Off from Work -- government, schools, businesses closed; multiple days
off.
*
Peace -- dispensing of punishments suspended and courts closed; wars ceased.
*
Relaxing with Family and Friends -- renewing bonds, sharing celebration.
*
Gift Giving -- dolls to children, candles to friends; fruit symbols representing
increase.
*
Feasting -- sharing food with family and friends; on-going eating and drinking.
*
Helping Less Fortunate -- class distinctions suspended; food for all; masters
waiting on servants.
*
Exhuberant Play -- masquerades, gaming, gambling, mock king, jokes, partying,
letting loose.
* Paper
Hats -- soft hats (pilei) worn at Saturnalia banquets to signify informality.
*
Dancing in the New Solar Year -- music and dancing.
