How to Celebrate Saturnalia

Author Info

Last Updated: December 7, 2024

Saturnalia is the Roman festival celebrated on the 17th of December honoring Saturnus, who introduced agriculture and the arts of civilized life. It was the season when agricultural work was completed; a sort of joyous Thanksgiving-type holiday of relaxation and merriment. During Saturnalia, businesses, courts and schools were closed.

This is a guide to celebrating a reconstructed Saturnalia today.

Steps

Download Article

These are green and gold.
Garlands or wreaths are ideal. Add golden cutouts of the sun or golden pinecones, nuts, acorns.

Advertisement
If you have living trees on your own property, hang them with sun symbols, stars, and faces of the God Janus (who watches over the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one). In Roman times, trees were not brought indoors but were decorated where they grew. It is also possible to decorate living plants in pots.
in the shapes of fertility symbols, suns and moons and stars, and herd animal shapes. You can make your own cookie cutters if you're keen! Use green and/or gold food colors or sprinkles.
This is pronounced "eeyo sa-tur-NAL-ee-uh".
Saturnalia is a joyous holiday and Romans shared it with friends and family.
Give small presents, including presents of food or sweets, or candles or lamps. Attach a clever note or a short witty poem to your gifts. Read the Roman poet Martial ("Xenia" and "Apophoreta") for some authentic examples from Roman times.
Safely light a candle there. Display and decorate a statue of Saturnus, if you have one, or a photo of a statue or painting of him.
10
Celebrate freedom and destroy hierarchies. Saturnalia was a type of opposite-day in which slaves could enjoy luxury alongside their masters. You may want to wear a pileus, a conical felt cap that in the classical world represented freedom.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Why did the Romans just all of the sudden decide to celebrate Saturnalia one year?

Community Answer

It wasn't sudden. It was developed over centuries to become a major public holiday with free games and entertainment. After Christianity becomes the state religion - 4th century CE - previous religious beliefs were forcibly abolished and their major festivals subsumed in order to maintain popular seasonal festivals. Saturnalia became Christmas.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 42
Question

Where is Saturnalia celebrated?

Community Answer

During the Roman period, Saturnalia was celebrated across the Roman Empire. Today, however, it is celebrated by reconstructionist pagans around the world.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 33
Question

Did Jesus and his family celebrate Saturnalia?

Spaceship

Community Answer

Yes it is possible that Jesus and his family celebrated Saturnalia as Jesus lived during the Roman period.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 36 Helpful 26

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

This is not a time to wear your toga. A toga is formal wear and Saturnalia is a relaxed holiday. Romans wore something called a synthesis, but you can wear a tunic too.

Thanks
Helpful 22 Not Helpful 9