Transcript Io, Saturnalia! - Mrs. Sellers' Class Website

Io, Saturnalia!
Dec. 2013
*Io (ee-oh or ye-oh) Saturnalia was the traditional
holiday greeting. “Io” translates
Yay!, Hey!, Yo!, etc.
What Was Saturnalia?
• Saturnalia was the Roman festival in honor of
the god (Titan) Saturn
• Festivities lasted Dec. 17-23
• Saturn was an early Roman
god of agriculture,
plenty,
wealth, time,
and liberation
How Was Saturnalia Celebrated?
• A ceremony and sacrifice at the Temple of
Saturn in the Roman Forum
• A “public banquet” after the sacrifice
• Then people would celebrate at home with
dinners, gifts, and fun.
What Was Saturnalia Like?
• Courts and schools were closed
• Everyone, slave and citizen,
could wear the pilleus, the
“freedman’s cap”
• Gambling was temporarily legal
• Instead of wearing formal togas, people wore
colorful Greek-style clothing
• Friends and families enjoyed dinners and
exchanged gifts
• Evergreen decorations
What Was Saturnalia Like?
• Saturnalia was a time of “role reversal!”
• Slaves enjoyed a banquet like their masters
(sometimes the master would serve)
• A person (often a child) would be elected
“princeps Saturnalicius” and give silly orders
• “Free speech” was
tolerated: slaves could
be sassy, children bossy,
etc…(in theory)
Saturnalia Gifts
• Dec. 23 was called the “Sigillaria”
• Sigillaria were small clay or wax figurines
given as gifts (usually as toys), sold at special
markets.
• Saturnalia gifts were often small, but could be
expensive, too.
Saturnalia Gifts
• Cheap gifts symbolized the “equality” of
Saturnalia. Gag gifts were popular, too.
• Sigillaria, silver objects, and wax candles were
traditional gifts for Saturnalia.
• Multiple gifts could be given over several days,
sometimes with a poem (like a card) attached
Examples of Gifts
(Martial, 84-85 AD)
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writing tablets
dice
knucklebones
moneybox
comb
toothpick
hat
hunting knife
axe
lamps
ball
perfume
pipes
a pig 
sausage
a parrot 
table
cups
spoons
clothing
statue
mask
books
pets