#Saturnalia decorations free

But I wonder if somewhere along the way he might have met up with Saint Nicholas and morphed into Santa as well.Īs the Roman Empire spread throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, their Saturnalia traditions spread too. Cronus, himself was often depicted as an old man with a beard and a scythe, much like our Father Time. Saturn was equated with the Greek god, Cronus, the father of Zeus. Saturnalia was the celebration in honour of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and seed sowing.

Generosity and gift-giving extended even to slaves, as Cato the Elder, in the second century BC, prescribed just how much extra wine to give to slaves – almost twice as much as usual.

#Saturnalia decorations free

In the early days, when Rome was just a small city-state, they celebrated with a free public banquet followed by a religious ceremony at the temple of Saturn in the forum. Long before Christmas these traditions began.ĭecember 17 was the festival day of Saturnalia for the ancient Romans. We have brought light to the darkness by giving gifts, spending time with family and friends, being kind to those less fortunate, and by overindulging. In the cold dark days around the winter solstice, when the sun stops traveling away from us and begins its return, we have always chosen to make merry. You, too, December, tipsy from so much wine, and laughing Good Cheer and wanton Joviality, come and be present.” “But you, Saturn, cast off your fetters and come near.