Saturnalia. AND What is in the Name December?

According to Guy Ottewell’s astronomical calendar, December is the 10th month of the old Roman calendar that started with March. Decem means 10.

This month is also connected to the ancient Roman celebration known as Saturnalia.

Saturnalia, in Roman times was an annual 7 to 12 day festival that was celebrated by stopping business, executions and military operations. It was also a time when the masters served the slaves and marriage vows were suspended for that time.

Saturnalia was celebrated on December 17 or 19 of the Julian calendar
and lasted for several days. It was also thought of as the birthday of the Sun, or Sol Invictus, meaning “unconquered Sun.”

Saturnalia was about overturning the rules in ways that allowed for a fresh perspective. Currently we are in what we could call planetary Saturnalia (due to the shift from one Galactic Year to another) when the old rules or structures are crumbling and new structures that support these rapidly changing times are seeking form.

More about the December Solstice HERE

Note About the Shift to a New Great Year: Every 26,000 years for about 144 years the December Solstice aligns along the Galactic Cross (where the plane of our Galaxy intersects the plane of our Solar System) near Galactic Center. The center point of this alignment was in 1998 with about 72 years on either side representing the window of this great turning – staring in 1926 and going to 2070.

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival held in honor of Saturn

The Romans consider Saturn as the god of agriculture, wealth, and abundance. This annual celebration known as Saturnalia was from December 17 to December 23 (though the duration varied over time), it was one of the most popular and joyous festivals in the Roman calendar. 

Key Features of Saturnalia:

1. Role Reversals and Festive Freedom:
   • Social norms were temporarily relaxed during Saturnalia. Enslaved people were treated to feasts and often allowed to act as equals to their masters, sometimes even symbolically “ruling” over them for the day.
   • Hierarchies were upended in the spirit of celebration and equality.
2. Feasting and Merriment:
   • Lavish banquets and communal feasts were central to the festival.
   • Wine flowed freely, and tables were laden with fruits, nuts, and delicacies to celebrate abundance.
3. Gift-Giving:
   • People exchanged small gifts, known as sigillaria, such as candles, figurines, and other tokens of good luck and friendship.
   • This tradition influenced later winter holiday customs, including those associated with Christmas.
4. Public Celebrations:
   • Temples, homes, and streets were decorated with greenery, garlands, and candles.
   • Public spaces saw games, performances, and processions, with people shouting “Io Saturnalia!”—a phrase akin to “Happy Saturnalia!”
5. Honoring Saturn:
   • A key religious element was the sacrifice at Saturn’s temple in the Roman Forum.
   • During the festival, the statue of Saturn would be symbolically “freed” by untying the woolen bonds on its feet.
6. Joyous Atmosphere:
   • Saturnalia was known for its carefree spirit, with a focus on joy, community, and generosity.
   • Gambling, normally frowned upon, was widely permitted during the festival.

Cultural Significance:

Saturnalia marked the end of the agricultural season and the return of longer days after the winter solstice. It symbolized renewal, hope, and abundance. Over time, many of its traditions and themes—such as gift-giving and festive decor—became intertwined with Christian Christmas celebrations as Roman customs blended with emerging Christian practices.

It remains a fascinating lens into Roman society and its joyful approach to celebrating life’s cycles.