Saturnalia
& The Feast of Fools

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IO. SATURNALIA!

Now, at the time of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian calendar, December 17th in our modern calender), Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing, was honored with a festival. In the Roman calendar, the Saturnalia was designated a holy day, or holiday, on which religious rites were performed.

Saturn, himself, was identified with Kronos, and sacrificed to according to Greek ritual, with the head uncovered. The Temple of Saturn was dedicated on the Saturnalia, and the woolen bonds which fettered the feet of the ivory cult statue within were loosened on that day to symbolize the liberation of the god.

After sacrifice at the temple, there was a public banquet. There was also a banquet for the god in which its image is placed in attendance, as if a guest. Afterwards, the celebrants shouted "Io, Saturnalia!"

The Saturnalia lasted seven days. Gambling was allowed in public. Masters served their slaves, accepting taunts and insults that would be punished by the lash or death any other time of year. Within the family, a Lord of Misrule was chosen.

The community selected one person to be King of Saturnalia. This mock king directed his subjects to get drunk, dance, carouse and be blatantly lewd and lascivious. At the close of the festival he was expected to cut his own throat on Saturn's true altar and thus restore order.