How to Celebrate Saturnalia: Reclaim Nature’s Rhythms

When was the last time you felt recharged by the winter holidays? If you’re like me, you get overwhelmed by even the thought of the chaotic rush around the holiday season. My partner and I have been reimagining how we celebrate holidays for years. (I even created a calendar with Alternative Holidays!) And we’ve found that delving into ancient festivals like Saturnalia has been both enlightening and downright fun.

So, if you’ve been wanting to know how to celebrate Saturnalia for the first time, or if you’re looking for a new way that’s meaningful for you and your family, you’re in for a treat. In this article, we’ll explore the historical, sociological, and even biological aspects of this captivating holiday. Plus, I’ll share two unique ways to celebrate—whether you’re a minimalist or a full-blown enthusiast.

Saturnalia was originally celebrated by the Romans between December 17th and December 23rd in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture and time. Saturn has a rich mythological history that adds layers of meaning to this ancient festival.

In Roman mythology, Saturn was a revered old god who had been dethroned by his son Jupiter. After his fall from power, Saturn was said to have instituted a golden age on Earth, a time of peace, equality, and abundant harvests. Saturnalia, therefore, became a way to annually recreate this utopian past, even if just for a few days. During the festival, social hierarchies were turned on their heads—slaves were treated as equals, businesses and schools closed, and a general sense of revelry took over.

The essence of Saturnalia captured the spirit of this golden age with its focus on social equality, abundance, and a hiatus from the everyday grind. Interestingly, the Roman Empire saw Saturnalia as such an important event that during wartime, enemies would call a truce to celebrate it. Over the centuries, some Saturnalia customs were incorporated into Christmas traditions, but the original festival was far more egalitarian and had a distinctive focus on overturning social norms.

So, while modern celebrations might lack the ancient Roman context, understanding Saturn’s mythical golden age can deepen our appreciation for Saturnalia and inspire us to infuse our own festivities with a sense of idealism, community, and natural abundance.

Pagan and Roman Culture: Freedom, Equality, and Nature

In Roman times, Saturnalia was not considered a “pagan” holiday per se but was deeply intertwined with the culture’s focus on agrarian cycles, much like how pagans revere natural cycles. Saturnalia emphasized freedom, equality, and a deep connection to the Earth’s natural rhythms. As modern pagans celebrate Sabbats that honor the Earth, Saturnalia can serve as a supplemental tradition that enhances our natural connection and psychological well-being.

Biological and Sociological Perspective

From a biological standpoint, taking time off during the darkest part of the year to celebrate and relax has its benefits. Studies show that embracing seasonal changes can help regulate our circadian rhythm, improving sleep and mental health. Sociologically, traditions like Saturnalia that upend social hierarchies have the power to foster a sense of community and equality, something our modern world often lacks.

How to Celebrate Saturnalia

Simple Celebration Method: Gratitude Sharing

Time Required: 30 minutes
Supplies Needed: Small pieces of paper, pen, a bowl

Instructions:

1. Gather your friends or family.
2. Write down something you’re thankful for on a piece of paper.
3. Place the papers in a bowl.
4. Each person picks a paper and reads it aloud.
5. Discuss the significance and how it relates to the year ahead.

Elaborate Celebration Method: Saturnalia Feast and Role-Reversal

Phase 1: Role-Reversal Ceremony to Challenge Social Norms

Time Required: 1-2 hours
Supplies Needed: Costumes, accessories, or specific articles of clothing that help to define roles

Instructions:

1. Choose Roles: Identify roles within your gathering that typically come with different levels of authority or social expectations. For example, parent-child, boss-employee, or teacher-student.
2. Switch Roles: Swap clothes, accessories, or positions (like seating arrangements) to visually represent the role reversal.
3. Act It Out: Spend some time truly inhabiting these flipped roles. Parents obey their children’s instructions for an hour; employees give orders to their bosses.Parent-Child Prompts:
   • Child: “Time for bed, Mom/Dad.”
   • Parent: “Can I please have one more cookie?”
   Boss-Employee Prompts:
   • Employee: “I need that report on my desk by 5 pm.”
   • Boss: “I’ll get right on it!”
   Teacher-Student Prompts:
   • Student: “Class, today we’re going to learn about ancient Rome.”
   • Teacher: “Can I go to the bathroom?”
4. Reflect and Share: After an hour or so, gather to share experiences. How did it feel to inhabit another role? Were there any surprising emotional reactions?

The Impact of the Role-Reversal Ceremony:
The aim of this practice is to leave you questioning and reflecting on the power dynamics and social norms that often go unquestioned in daily life. It can be a liberating and eye-opening experience that fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of the roles each of us plays. Just as Saturnalia once sought to overturn the established order in a spirit of communal joy, this role-reversal ceremony offers you the chance to experience a mini societal ‘reset,’ if only for a few hours.

Phase 2: Saturnalia Feast to Rekindle Abundance and Unity

Time Required: 3-4 hours
Supplies Needed: Foods and drinks for the feast, dishes, cups, utensils, and decorations

Instructions:

1. Preparation: Decorate the dining area with evergreen branches, wreaths, and candles to mimic the ancient Roman style. Arrange the table in a communal setting to symbolize unity and equality.
2. Menu: Prepare foods that Romans would typically eat during Saturnalia.
   • Stuffed Dates: Dates were a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
   • Honey-Glazed Vegetables: Honey was associated with the sweetness of life.
   • Cheese and Olive Bread: Bread and cheese were staples in Roman daily life, and olives represented peace.
   • Mulsum (Spiced Wine): Wine was a sign of abundance and joy.
3. Begin the Feast: Once everyone is seated, kick off the feast with toasts to Saturn to honor the god and the occasion.Simple Toast:
   “To Saturn, who once ruled a golden age, may his spirit bless this gathering!”Dreamy Toast:
   “To Saturn, the weaver of time and cultivator of abundance, may we dance in the realms of your past golden age and bring its echoes into our present!”
4. Share and Reflect: As you feast, share stories, laughter, and reflect on the power of community and egalitarian ideals.

What This Feast Aims to Achieve:
The feast is not just about enjoying delectable foods but reconnecting with ancient values of communal abundance and equality. Just like the role-reversal ceremony, the Saturnalia feast offers an avenue for reflection, questioning societal norms, and for appreciating the blessings of abundance and community in our lives.

Wrapping up

So there you have it! Saturnalia offers us a rich tapestry of customs that we can adapt to reclaim a sense of balance, equality, and connection with the Earth’s cycles. Whether you opt for a simple gratitude sharing or go all out with a role-reversal feast, the spirit of Saturnalia can infuse your holiday season with meaningful revelry. Cheers to rediscovering ancient wisdom for modern living!

Dive Deeper: Book Recommendations for the Curious Mind

Are you fascinated by Saturnalia, ancient Roman practices, or agriculture in the Roman age? Here are some book recommendations that can help you dive deeper into these rich topics. These books range from academic texts to more accessible reads, but they all offer valuable insights into understanding this multifaceted celebration and the era it originated from.

1. “Saturnalia: Traveling from Cape Town to Kampala in Search of an African Utopia” by Tony Perrottet
   • This book is an excellent starting point to understand Saturnalia in its historical context and how it was celebrated. It not only focuses on the holiday itself but gives a broader understanding of Roman life.
2. “The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy” edited by Christer Bruun and Jonathan Edmondson
   • If you’re interested in original sources, this book provides an array of Roman inscriptions, including several related to festivals like Saturnalia.
3. “Food and Society in Classical Antiquity” by Peter Garnsey
   • This is an engaging read for anyone interested in the culinary aspects of Roman culture. It helps you understand the symbolic meaning behind the foods commonly used in Roman feasts.
4. “Farming the Red Land: Jewish Agricultural Colonization and Local Soviet Power, 1924-1941” by Jonathan Dekel-Chen
   • This may seem like an odd recommendation, but it actually provides valuable insights into agricultural practices that were surprisingly sophisticated for their time. Understanding agriculture in the Roman age gives you a deeper appreciation for the god Saturn.
5. “The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain” by Ronald Hutton
   • Although this book focuses on Britain, it explores various pre-Christian and Christian holidays that were influenced by Roman practices, including Saturnalia.

Each of these books offers a unique perspective, aiding you in your journey towards creating a more intentional and historically-informed Saturnalia celebration.