Saturnalia: Winter Solstice in Pagan Rome
by Selena Fox

Timing of Saturnalia

• varied during the course of Roman history.
• began as feast days for Saturn (December 17) and Ops (December 19).
• with Julian calendar, Saturnalia on December 17 & 18; Opalia on December 19 & 20.
• during the empire, extended to a week (December 17-23); longer with other holidays.

Associated holiday festivals

• Consualia, end of sowing season festival (December 15).
• Dies Juvenalis, Coming of Age for Young Men (mid-December).
• Feast of Sol Invicta, the Unconquered Sun, set in 274 A. D. (December 25).
• Brumalia, Winter Solstice on pre-Julian calendar (December 25).
• Christmas (December 25), Christians move Christ's birthday to this date in 336 A.D.
• Janus Day and Beginning of Calendar Year (January 1), set in 153 B.C.; again in 45 B.C.
• Compitalia, blessing of the fields rural festival (January 3-5).

Deities honored around Winter Solsticetime

• Saturn - God of Agriculture; merged with the Greek Cronos.
• Ops - Goddes of Plenty; Mother Earth; partner to Saturn and Consus.
• Sol Invicta - Sun God; connected with the Persian Mithra, honored by Roman soldiers.
• Consus - God of Storebin of Harvested Grain.
• Juventas - Goddess of Young Manhood; related to Greek Hebe of Youthful Beauty.
• Janus - God of Beginnings and Gates; Solar God of Daybreak; Creator God.

Celebrations included

• merry-making
• rest and relaxation
• connections with family and friends
• celebrating beginning of Solar year
• prayers for protection of Winter crops
• honoring Deities

Legacies of Saturnalia in contemporary holiday celebrations

• Religious Rituals -- joining in spiritual community to honor the Divine.
• Honored Figures -- Santa and Father Time -- Saturn; Holy Mother -- Ops.
• Sacred Flames -- candles lit and new fires kindled to represent new Solar year.
• Greens -- Holly given with gifts, homes decorated with wreaths and garlands.
• Time Off from Work -- government, schools, businesses closed; multiple days off.
• Peace -- dispensing of punishments suspended and courts closed; wars ceased.
• Relaxing with Family and Friends -- renewing bonds, sharing celebration.
• Gift Giving -- dolls to children, candles to friends; fruit symbols representing increase.
• Feasting -- sharing food with family and friends; on-going eating and drinking.
• Helping Less Fortunate -- class distinctions suspended; food for all; masters waiting on servants.
• Exhuberant Play -- masquerades, gaming, gambling, mock king, jokes, partying, letting loose.
• Paper Hats -- soft hats (pilei) worn at Saturnalia banquets to signify informality.
• Dancing in the New Solar Year -- music and dancing.