This Saturnalia season, however, brings the recent news of Sponsianus, long thought by historians to have been a fake Roman Emperor.Īccording to Wall Street Journal reporter Aylin Woodward, “A new analysis of rare Roman coins said to have been unearthed more than three centuries ago but long dismissed as forgeries provides compelling evidence that the gold pieces are authentic-and that the crown-wearing man whose likeness appears on one of them was a real historical figure who ruled as a Roman emperor almost 1800 years ago.” Students will often exchange candles as symbols of the season, and commemorate the ancient festival with special cakes and foods. The ancient Saturnalia and many of its customs survive to the present day both in Rome and in modern-day Latin classes. In fact, the poet Catullus once described the festival as “the best of days.” Nevertheless, the Saturnalia was the most popular holiday of the Roman year for centuries. Hence, by the middle of the 4th century A.D., many customs of the old Saturnalia were adapted to the celebration of Christmas. It appears, however, that by the second century A.D., Brumalia, the winter solstice celebration, replaced the Saturnalia for a time. In fact, it is thought that the exchange, “permutatio,” of wax candles symbolized Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun, as part of the winter solstice tradition. The ancient Romans also celebrated the “solstitium,” or winter solstice, at the approximate mid-way point between the Ides of December (December 13th) and the Kalends of January (January 1st), corresponding to our Winter Solstice on December 21st. The Saturnalia was an occasion for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly “cerei,” wax candles, and again, “sigillaria,” clay dolls. The Temple of Saturnus, thought by many to be the oldest Roman temple recorded by the pontiffs’ annals, had been dedicated on the Saturnalia.Īfter sacrifice in the Temple of Saturnus, the celebrants would enjoy a public banquet, then go out to the streets shouting the holiday greeting “Io Saturnalia!” for all to hear. Through the ages, the fabled festival in honor of Saturnus had acquired numerous customs and traditions, many of which were adopted by the early Christians and which persist to the current day.Īccording to Macrobius, the celebration of the Saturnalia was extended with the Sigillaria, so named for the small earthenware figurines which were sold in Roman shops and given as gifts to children. “As part of the tradition, Roman men replaced the formal toga with a loose-fitting garment called a synthesis and slaves were treated as equals by their masters as a tribute to the supposed political freedom and general merriment of the celebration.” Emperor Augustus, however, limited the celebrations to three days so the civil courts would not have to be closed for an extended period of time.” Various unique features will be researched and shared by students including, “In Cicero’s time, the Saturnalia lasted seven days. The commemoration originated in ancient Rome in honor of an early king-god named Saturnus who was renowned for the goodwill and prosperity of his reign.Īccording to tradition, the ancient Romans honored Saturnus as the god of seed and sowing, after the autumn planting was completed. As mid-December days approach, in many schools throughout the Main Line, Latin teachers and their students will be preparing to exclaim the celebratory “Io Saturnalia,” a clarion call throughout the centuries of the Roman festival called Saturnalia.
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