Io, Saturnalia!Dec. 2013

*Io (ee-oh or ye-oh) Saturnalia was the traditional holiday greeting. “Io”

translatesYay!, Hey!, Yo!, etc.

What Was Saturnalia?• Saturnalia was the Roman festival in honor of

the god (Titan) Saturn• Festivities lasted Dec. 17-23 • Saturn was an early Roman

god of agriculture, plenty, wealth, time, and liberation

How Was Saturnalia Celebrated?• A ceremony and sacrifice at the Temple of

Saturn in the Roman Forum• A “public banquet” after the sacrifice• Then people would celebrate at home with

dinners, gifts, and fun.

What Was Saturnalia Like?

• Courts and schools were closed• Everyone, slave and citizen,

could wear the pilleus, the “freedman’s cap”

• Gambling was temporarily legal• Instead of wearing formal togas, people wore

colorful Greek-style clothing• Friends and families enjoyed dinners and

exchanged gifts• Evergreen decorations

What Was Saturnalia Like?• Saturnalia was a time of “role reversal!”• Slaves enjoyed a banquet like their masters

(sometimes the master would serve)• A person (often a child) would be elected

“princeps Saturnalicius” and give silly orders• “Free speech” was tolerated: slaves could be sassy, children bossy, etc…(in theory)

Saturnalia Gifts• Dec. 23 was called the “Sigillaria”• Sigillaria were small clay or wax figurines

given as gifts (usually as toys), sold at special markets.

• Saturnalia gifts were often small, but could be expensive, too.

Saturnalia Gifts• Cheap gifts symbolized the “equality” of

Saturnalia. Gag gifts were popular, too.• Sigillaria, silver objects, and wax candles were

traditional gifts for Saturnalia.• Multiple gifts could be given over several

days, sometimes with a poem (like a card) attached

Examples of Gifts(Martial, 84-85 AD)

• writing tablets lamps spoons• dice ball clothing• knucklebones perfume statue• moneybox pipes mask• comb a pig books• toothpick sausage pets• hat a parrot • hunting knife table• axe cups