Saturnalia is a beloved ancient Roman festival, which starts right before the winter solstice, on December 17th.
It's a time of unlicensed celebration, a golden age without morality and rules. It praises life, and the mysteries surrounding the sun’s disappearance from our lives. It promotes role reversals, free speech, and libationary merriment of Dionysian proportions involving drinking, swearing and gambling, with banquets and food sacrificed to deities.
In ancient times, households would appoint a mock king or “Lord of Misrule” to reign over everyone and give silly orders like telling someone to shout embarrassing insults, dance naked, or chase others around the house.
Along with drinking, feasting, and gambling, exchanging gifts was a popular Saturnalia tradition, set up similar to a white elephant exchange. You keep the gift you have drawn, for better or worse. Some gifts included: fattened pigs, incense, turtledoves, glass cups, ivory knucklebones (a precursor to modern day dice), lamps, clay statuettes, and gold rings.
During the dark days around the solstice, candles are reminders of the return of the sun after winter. During Saturnalia, wax candles are placed as offerings on household altars to Saturn, especially during the final days of the festival.
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