How it was celebrated:
Saturnalia was celebrated as a leisure day where work, school, and
regular social patterns were halted. During this time, people would
decorate their homes with greenery and wear colorful togas, socialize,
feast, and give gifts. A commonly given gift were wax candles which
symbolized light returning after the solstice. They would also give
terracotta statuettes which symbolized human sacrifices that may have
been performed past Saturnalias.
Saturnalia was a holiday many Romans looked forward to. The poet
Catullus even referred to Saturnalia as “the best of times”. During
Christmastime, keep in mind its origins in Saturnalia.
Fun Facts
The first Saturnalia was 497 BC, the date of the
dedication of a temple to Saturn.
The standard greeting for Saturnalia was “lo
Saturnalia!”
The roles of slaves and masters were often
switched where slaves could relax all day and sit at
the head of the table while their masters served
them.