December 17 – Saturnalia

Saturnalia Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE SATURNALIA STEP-BY-STEP

Decorate your home with beautiful greenery
Serve delicious Roman foods like stuffed grape leaves.
Learn more about the Saturnalia Roman holiday.
Dress in Roman costumes.
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11/05/2024 10:39 pm GMT

Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, is celebrated from December 17-23. To embrace this tradition today, start by decorating your space with greenery, candles, and symbols of Saturn like wheat or corn. Host a festive feast where friends and family gather to enjoy hearty foods and drinks, emulating the spirit of ancient Roman banquets. Gift-giving is essential, as Romans exchanged small presents to show goodwill. Embrace a relaxed, joyful atmosphere with music, games, and role reversals, where hosts serve guests. Saturnalia is all about celebrating abundance, community, and merriment as the year ends.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SATURNALIA

Saturnalia was a popular ancient Roman festival held in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture and time, celebrated from December 17 to 23. Originating around the 5th century BCE, Saturnalia marked the end of the autumn planting season and the approach of the winter solstice. Known for its festive, carnival-like atmosphere, the holiday included feasting, gift-giving, and role reversals, where slaves and masters often switched places in a symbolic gesture of equality. The festival encouraged joy, freedom, and generosity, with businesses closing and social norms relaxing. Saturnalia’s traditions influenced later winter celebrations, including aspects of Christmas and New Year’s festivities.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE SATURNALIA DAY

Host a Saturnalia Feast: Invite friends and family for a large meal featuring traditional Roman dishes and a festive atmosphere.
Role-Reversal Day: Switch roles with someone else, like hosting a day where kids “rule” or friends take on each other’s responsibilities, in honor of Saturnalia’s role-reversal tradition.
Gift Exchange Ceremony: Organize a gift exchange with small, thoughtful items to celebrate the giving spirit of Saturnalia.
Decorate with Greenery and Candles: Adorn your space with wreaths, ivy, and candles to bring Saturnalia’s traditional decorations into the home.
Saturnalia Toasts: Offer toasts to Saturn and good fortune, encouraging each person to make a toast for the coming year.
Make a Saturnalia Wreath: Craft wreaths with evergreen branches, ivy, and other greenery as symbols of rebirth and renewal.
Costume Party in Roman Style: Invite guests to dress in Roman attire, such as togas, and host a costume contest for the best look.
Music and Dancing: Play traditional Roman or festive music and encourage everyone to join in dancing to lighten the atmosphere.
Wine Tasting Party: Organize a wine tasting with a variety of wines, inspired by the Roman tradition of enjoying drinks during Saturnalia.
Saturnalia Trivia Game: Test knowledge about Roman history and Saturnalia traditions with a trivia game and award small prizes.
Storytelling Circle: Share ancient myths and stories about Saturn, the gods, and Roman history, bringing the mythological elements of Saturnalia to life.
Craft Session for Roman Ornaments: Make Roman-inspired ornaments, like small figurines or symbols of Saturn, to decorate your home or gift to others.
Candle Lighting Ritual: Host a ritual to light candles or lanterns together, symbolizing light’s return as the days begin to grow longer.
Bonfire Gathering: If possible, gather around a bonfire with friends to celebrate Saturnalia’s focus on warmth and community.
Serve Traditional Roman Foods: Prepare foods like olives, cheese, bread, nuts, and dates to enjoy and share with guests.
Create Saturnalia Themed Art: Encourage guests to paint or draw scenes from Saturnalia or ancient Rome as a creative activity.
Hold a Saturnalia Fortune Ceremony: Set up a small fortune-telling session, encouraging light-hearted predictions for the coming year.
Plant Seeds for New Beginnings: Begin planting winter-friendly herbs or bulbs as a symbolic act of honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture.
Saturnalia Card-Making: Make cards with messages of goodwill to share with friends and family, reflecting the spirit of giving.
Organize a Role-Swap Game: Play a game where participants draw a role (host, guest, etc.) for the evening, embracing the spirit of Saturnalia’s role reversal.
Host a Saturnalia Toastmasters Event: Encourage each guest to prepare a toast or short speech in honor of Saturn and the blessings of the year.
Ancient Roman Board Games: Play traditional Roman board games like “Tabula” or “Ludus Latrunculorum” for an authentic Saturnalia activity.
Set Up a Wish Tree: Invite guests to write their hopes for the coming year on paper, then tie them to a tree or a decorative branch.
Saturnalia Poetry Reading: Recite or create poetry inspired by Saturnalia’s themes of nature, rebirth, and community.
Reflective Gratitude Circle: Gather in a circle and share something each person is grateful for, capturing the essence of Saturnalia’s appreciation for the harvest and the community.
Ludus Latrunculorum: Play this traditional Roman strategy game similar to chess, involving tactics and capturing opponents’ pieces.
Tabula Game: Try the Roman version of backgammon, moving pieces according to dice rolls to see who can clear the board first.
Saturnalia Charades: Act out Roman gods, myths, or Saturnalia traditions while others guess, adding a festive twist to classic charades.
Ancient Roman Trivia: Test knowledge of Roman history, mythology, and Saturnalia traditions in a trivia game with prizes.
Dice Betting Game: Play with dice, where players place small wagers, a popular activity during Saturnalia in ancient Rome.
Guess the God or Goddess: Give clues about a Roman god or goddess, and players guess who it is based on the hints provided.
Fortune Telling Game: Draw cards with “fortunes” or predictions for the coming year, for a lighthearted Saturnalia tradition.
Saturnalia Word Scramble: Unscramble words related to Saturnalia and Roman culture, racing against the clock or other players.
Pass the Torch Game: Play a game similar to “Hot Potato” but with a small torch or candle, where players pass until the music stops.
Role Reversal Dice Game: Each player rolls dice, with the highest number becoming “king” for the round, making humorous rules for others.
Wine Cork Toss: Toss wine corks into cups or jars, aiming for accuracy, as a nod to the Saturnalia tradition of wine and feasting.
Roman Costume Relay: Set up a relay where players dress in Roman attire as quickly as possible and race to the finish.
Guess the Myth: Describe a Roman myth without naming it, while others guess the story based on your description.
Roman Names Anagram Challenge: Mix up letters in famous Roman names, challenging others to guess the correct name.
Tug-of-War: A classic game symbolizing strength and teamwork, perfect for Saturnalia celebrations with friends or family.
Saturnalia Mask Making and Judging: Create masks and vote on the most creative, colorful, or humorous, in honor of Saturnalia festivities.
Javelin Throw with Straws: Use paper straws as miniature “javelins” and aim for a target to score points in this playful adaptation.
Guess the Aroma: Place various herbs and spices in covered jars, and have players guess each scent, honoring Saturn, god of agriculture.
Ancient Coins Hunt: Hide chocolate coins or small items around the room, and let players search for them as hidden treasures.
The “King of Saturnalia” Crown Game: Choose a king or queen by drawing lots, who then gives humorous orders others must follow.
Roman-Themed Bingo: Create Bingo cards with Roman symbols, gods, and Saturnalia items for a themed Bingo game.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt: Set up a hunt with clues that lead to symbols of Saturnalia or Roman-themed items around the house or venue.
Saturnalia Cornhole: Play a cornhole game with targets decorated with Saturnalia symbols, tossing small bean bags to score.
Pictogram Roman Words: Draw words or phrases related to Saturnalia using only symbols, while others guess the correct term.
Ancient Gods Memory Match: Make cards with Roman gods and goddesses, challenging players to match pairs from memory.
Saturnalia Laurel Wreaths: Create a wreath using green branches and gold-painted leaves to symbolize abundance and honor Saturn.
Miniature Saturnalia Shrines: Assemble small shrines with candles, statues, or icons of Saturn for a festive touch and personal ritual space.
Golden Cornucopia Centerpieces: Make cornucopias with gold spray paint and fill them with fruits and nuts as a nod to Saturnalia’s theme of abundance.
Roman-Style Clay Oil Lamps: Craft clay lamps for an authentic touch, inspired by ancient Roman lighting used during Saturnalia celebrations.
Saturnalia Gift Dice: Paint or decorate dice as a playful gift, representing the gambling games Romans traditionally enjoyed during the festival.
Leafy Roman Crowns: Twist together faux leaves and vines to create a crown to wear, symbolizing freedom and festivity.
Jupiter Figurine Ornaments: Make small ornaments or figurines of Jupiter and other Roman deities to hang around the home in a Saturnalia-inspired fashion.
Felt Saturnalia Stockings: Sew or glue together felt stockings, decorated with Saturnalia symbols, for exchanging small gifts or surprises.
Herb Sachets for Prosperity: Craft sachets with rosemary, thyme, and sage as fragrant gifts believed to bring good fortune.
Golden Saturnalia Candles: Pour homemade candles in gold hues, a symbol of light and celebration during Saturnalia’s darker winter days.
Faux Fruit Garlands: String together faux grapes, pomegranates, and apples as colorful garlands to signify plenty and nature’s bounty.
Saturnalia Drinking Horns: Decorate faux drinking horns with paint and ribbon as festive cups for your Saturnalia feast.
Roman Mosaic Coasters: Create coasters with mosaic patterns using small stones or tiles as a nod to ancient Roman art.
Mini Pine Cone Saturnalia Trees: Paint pine cones gold and green, then decorate them as mini Saturnalia trees for tabletops.
Golden Clay Masks: Make simple clay masks painted in gold to mimic the ancient practice of dressing up and disguising oneself.
Altar Cloths with Saturn Symbols: Dye or decorate fabric with Saturn symbols to create unique altar cloths for holiday décor.
Festive Saturnalia Goblets: Paint glass goblets with Saturnalia symbols or colors to add a celebratory flair to the dinner table.
Lavender-Scented Hand Salves: Make small containers of hand salve using lavender, a traditional Roman herb, as a luxurious and practical gift.
Jester Hats: Craft jester hats out of felt or fabric, reflecting the temporary reversal of social roles common in Saturnalia.
Hand-Stamped Gift Wrapping: Stamp plain paper with Saturnalia-themed symbols like leaves, stars, or suns for unique wrapping paper.
Gladiator Sandal Bracelets: Create simple bracelets with leather strips to mimic gladiator sandals as a playful Saturnalia accessory.
Potpourri Bowls with Roman Herbs: Mix dried rosemary, sage, and bay leaves for a fragrant potpourri bowl representing prosperity and good health.
Fortune-Telling Dice Bags: Sew small fabric pouches to hold dice for fortune-telling, a popular activity during the holiday.
Beeswax Saturnalia Medallions: Mold beeswax into circular medallions stamped with Saturn symbols, ideal as festive decorations or charms.
Saturnalia Gift Bags: Make small, reusable fabric gift bags adorned with ribbon and Roman patterns, perfect for Saturnalia gifts.
Honeyed Almonds: Roast almonds in honey and sprinkle with sea salt for a sweet, crunchy treat inspired by Roman flavors.
Olive Tapenade: Blend olives, capers, and olive oil to create a savory spread perfect for pairing with rustic bread.
Stuffed Grape Leaves: Fill grape leaves with rice, herbs, and a dash of lemon juice for a dish reminiscent of ancient Roman feasts.
Fig and Walnut Bread: Bake a dense bread with figs and walnuts to celebrate the seasonal fruits enjoyed during Saturnalia.
Mulled Wine: Simmer red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and oranges to create a warm, aromatic drink.
Roasted Chestnuts: Roast chestnuts until golden and tender, a traditional winter snack that would have been enjoyed during Saturnalia.
Honey Cake: Bake a simple cake sweetened with honey and spiced with cinnamon, similar to Roman dessert offerings.
Grape Must Cookies: Make cookies with grape must, flour, and anise seeds, replicating treats enjoyed in ancient Roman times.
Spiced Lentil Stew: Simmer lentils with garlic, onion, and Mediterranean spices for a comforting stew.
Pomegranate Salad: Toss pomegranate seeds with arugula, walnuts, and a vinaigrette to represent the bounty of the season.
Garlic and Herb Flatbread: Bake flatbreads topped with olive oil, garlic, and herbs as an accompaniment to a Saturnalia feast.
Roasted Fennel: Slice fennel bulbs and roast them with olive oil for a side dish that nods to Roman flavors.
Honey-Glazed Pork: Roast pork with a honey glaze, reminiscent of the rich meats shared during the holiday.
Stuffed Mushrooms: Fill mushrooms with breadcrumbs, herbs, and cheese for a flavorful bite-sized appetizer.
Ancient Roman Cheesecake: Make a cheesecake with ricotta, honey, and citrus zest, inspired by Roman dessert recipes.
Herb-Marinated Olives: Marinate olives in garlic, rosemary, and thyme for a flavorful snack or side.
Roasted Vegetable Platter: Roast a mix of seasonal vegetables like carrots, squash, and parsnips for a colorful, hearty dish.
Roman Fruit Compote: Simmer dried fruits like figs, apricots, and raisins with honey and a splash of wine for a sweet dessert.
Spiced Apple Cider: Heat apple cider with cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange slices for a cozy drink.
Fried Honey Pastries: Fry pastry dough and drizzle with honey, a festive dessert enjoyed during ancient celebrations.
Sausage-Stuffed Dates: Fill dates with a savory sausage mixture and bake, blending sweet and savory flavors.
Caraway Cheese Spread: Mix soft cheese with caraway seeds and herbs, ideal for spreading on bread or crackers.
Pistachio-Crusted Lamb Chops: Coat lamb chops in crushed pistachios and herbs for an indulgent, holiday-appropriate main course.
Fig and Goat Cheese Tart: Layer figs and goat cheese in a tart crust for a flavorful appetizer or dessert.
Roman Egg Custard: Whisk eggs, honey, and milk to create a simple, creamy custard with a hint of cinnamon.