Saturnalia - the Roman winter solstice orgy

Masters and slaves switch roles

Saturnalia was the Roman mid-winter festival. It became hugely popular and 
extended beyond its original single day at the middle of winter, the drinking and 

debauchery started on the shortest day and continued through the longest night.

Saturnalia was in celebration of Saturn, the god of the Seed and Sowing. Saturn 
was father of Jupiter and the ruler of the Golden Age of Man. Note the distinction 

between Saturn the god of Protector of the Sowers and the Seed and Priapus, the 
god of fertility or Liber, God of fertility and nature.

Saturnalia is celebrated around the winter solstice. The festival harks back to 

the Golden Age of Man when Saturn ruled; then all men were equal, there was no 
work, and everyone enjoyed peace and happiness. So Saturnalia the festival is a 

time of celebration, visits to friends, and the giving of gifts such as candles 
and small clay figures. The poet Martial in Epigrams Book 14 lists various 

presents, some expensive, some very cheap. For example: writing tablets, dice, 
knuckle bones, moneyboxes, combs, toothpicks, a hat, a hunting knife, an axe, 

various lamps, balls, perfumes, pipes, a pig, a sausage, a parrot, tables, cups, 
spoons, items of clothing, statues, masks, books, and pets.

The Romans offered sacrifices at the temple of Saturn in the Greek style with 

uncovered heads. The statue of Saturn was released from woollen bonds. The temple 
rituals were followed by festive banquets where people dressed informally, not 

wearing the togas that signified Roman Citizenship and wearing paper hats or the 
the peaked woollen cap that symbolise a freed slave.

There was a period of relaxation at home, and masters waited on slaves at meals. 

This temporary reversal of roles allowed slaves sit at table and to gamble. The 
whole household chose Saturnalicius princeps (the Lord of Misrule) who duty was to 

order others to do his work and to summon the Master to his own table.

Slaves were exempt from punishment at Satunalia and traditionally they treated 
their masters with disrespect. The slaves celebrated a banquet, before with, or 

served by the masters. This lead to misbehaviour including widespread drinking, 
orgies and debauchery; the Christians used the word "saturnalia" to mean "orgy" 

but the midwinter festival, eating and drinking with friends was renamed Christmas 
when the Romans adopted Christianity.