*Ø* Blogmanac December 17 - 23 | Saturnalia & the origins of Xmas
Four major Roman festivals were held in December, including Saturnalia which celebrated the returning Sun-god.
Saturnalia (from the god Saturn) was the name the Romans gave to their holiday marking the Winter Solstice. Saturn was a Roman cognate of the Greek god Chronos (Time). He devoured all his children except Jupiter (air), Neptune (water), and Pluto (the underworld, or grave). These time cannot consume. He carries a sickle, like the Grim Reaper. The reign of Saturn was celebrated by the poets as a 'golden age'. According to the old alchemists and astrologers Saturn typified lead, and was a very evil planet to be born under. He was the god of seedtime and harvest and his symbol was a scythe, and he was finally banished from his throne by his son Jupiter."
Saturnalia was celebrated for seven days beginning on December 17. It honoured the corn-god Saturn and his consort, Ops, the goddess of plenty. Normal activities were suspended during this time period. Slaves and masters were temporarily on and equal footing, and the theme was goodwill to all. (The Roman masters were civilised enough to not kill their slaves afterwards, as seems to be the custom with such holidays in more primitive cultures.)
During this wild week, public business was suspended, the law courts and schools were closed and no criminals were punished, no wars were fought nor any business conducted. People spent much time gambling and feasting, and roles were reversed with masters waiting on their servants. Slaves wore their masters robes, and the patricians, wearing fantastic costumes, roamed the streets with their slaves ...
This is just a snippet from the December 17 page (I'm running late, sorry – see immediately below) of the Book of Days. There are also ideas on how to celebrate your own Saturnalia. Let your kids be parents for a day; they can discipline you, but they'll also have to feed you. Enjoy!
More folklore and origins of Christmas
Four major Roman festivals were held in December, including Saturnalia which celebrated the returning Sun-god.
Saturnalia (from the god Saturn) was the name the Romans gave to their holiday marking the Winter Solstice. Saturn was a Roman cognate of the Greek god Chronos (Time). He devoured all his children except Jupiter (air), Neptune (water), and Pluto (the underworld, or grave). These time cannot consume. He carries a sickle, like the Grim Reaper. The reign of Saturn was celebrated by the poets as a 'golden age'. According to the old alchemists and astrologers Saturn typified lead, and was a very evil planet to be born under. He was the god of seedtime and harvest and his symbol was a scythe, and he was finally banished from his throne by his son Jupiter."
Saturnalia was celebrated for seven days beginning on December 17. It honoured the corn-god Saturn and his consort, Ops, the goddess of plenty. Normal activities were suspended during this time period. Slaves and masters were temporarily on and equal footing, and the theme was goodwill to all. (The Roman masters were civilised enough to not kill their slaves afterwards, as seems to be the custom with such holidays in more primitive cultures.)
During this wild week, public business was suspended, the law courts and schools were closed and no criminals were punished, no wars were fought nor any business conducted. People spent much time gambling and feasting, and roles were reversed with masters waiting on their servants. Slaves wore their masters robes, and the patricians, wearing fantastic costumes, roamed the streets with their slaves ...
This is just a snippet from the December 17 page (I'm running late, sorry – see immediately below) of the Book of Days. There are also ideas on how to celebrate your own Saturnalia. Let your kids be parents for a day; they can discipline you, but they'll also have to feed you. Enjoy!
More folklore and origins of Christmas
Pip Wilson posted item above at 1:21 AM | Permalink
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