Io Saturnalia, witches and pagans! According to the poet Catullus, this is "the best of days."
Saturnalia is all about enjoyment, merrymaking, giving gag gifts to friends, roleplaying/reversing societal roles, and offering a symbolic sacrifice to Saturn (Greek counterpart: Kronos/Cronus) in honor of freedom and liberation. Some Romans observed this celebration as a restoration of the Golden Age.
This is a time to reverse conventional roles, especially those of power imbalances such as slaves and masters, or men and women. In Ancient Rome it was one of the few, if only, occasions which allowed and encouraged slaves to enjoy feasts before or with their masters. Some sources claim that the masters served their slaves their nightly feasts. Slaves were also allowed free speech without punishment.
Another role reversal was the donning of colorful, festive clothing during the daytime, which was typically considered to be in poor taste compared to the daily standard of plain togas as daywear.
Public drunkenness, and even gambling - which was generally prohibited or at least frowned upon - were allowed and acceptable.
What will you all be doing during this celebratory week? Do you have any plans for ritual offerings or acts of liberation and defiance? We'd love to hear from you in reblogs!
Io Saturnalia, and Happy Holidays from #pacificnorthwitches !













