The festival of Saturnalia was so powerful that its symbols and activities remain with us today, for it is the season to take out the holly, be jolly, indulge in drink, feast, and spirit, enjoy the holydays, (yes – I’m being pedantic with the spelling err.) To give gifts and be charitable to the ‘have nots’ and whatnot.
The oldest text that I can find to read on the festival are from Catullus (60ish B.C,) in which he is jesting with a friend stating that he had offended him on Saturnalia “the best of days.” Macrobius (in the 5th centuary A.D,) writes the most complete (yet incomplete,) of the old texts on the matter for budding historians to investigate.
The eight magnificent pillars of the glorious Templum Saturni still stand today in their 3rd incarnation after two fells by fire (the second attributed to the glorious Gaul.) To attend a feast here would be to indulge indeed, the rich would be generous with the wealth that they had accumulated and saved in its basement vaults.
On the first day of celebrations, (the 17th of December,) a Lord of Misrule would be appointed as a host for the spirit of Saturn (a hostia.) A privilege indeed that some say he would literally have given his life for in the earliest renditions of this rite. Not, of course, until he had lived the life of his dreams for one solid week.
In recorded history I can find nothing but rumor regarding human sacrifice and the festival, Macrobius does mention that when the time was right they may have “left the head uncovered during sacrifice.” One must not confuse the etymology of the word ‘sacrifice’ with that of ‘blessing’ though – we must take into account the absolute confusion of language in our modern times in English and consider even more the Latin culture of his time.
We will investigate human and animal sacrifice within Saturnalia further – for if there is any evidence then today is surely not the correct day for it.
Our Lord of Misrule shall be appointed and generous (or lax,) Masters and Mistresses may serve them some food, (or at least allow them to eat in the nearby vicinity, and something fancy at that!) Indulge minor whims, allow them to drink, gamble – and generally let ones hair down with the riffraff.
If one was such a way inclined, nudity was permissible – and few forgot to dance the night away, and it was permissible to let the lucky slaves lay down with one (which could mean several things, not always sexual,) everyone had a good time on Saturnalia, and if not, there would be no complaints as the courts were closed.
The populace would be given the headwear of a freeman to wear, and within boundaries, on the whole were treated very well. We will investigate the traditions of Saturnalia further throughout the week.
Today it is appropriate to celebrate the end of a years labour, to feast, drink, and be merry. Welcome the spirit of the of the scythe bearer within yourself, be courteous with your bounty, and of course (unless in jest,) bow not to anothers whim .. io Saturnalia amicis meis epularer!