But the emperor Augustus (who ruled from 27 BC–AD 14) shortened it to a three-day holiday, as it was causing chaos in terms of the working day. The three were merged, and became a seven-day jolly running from 17–23 December. The Brumalia coincided with the solstice, on 21 or 22 December.

And the third was a feast day celebrating the shortest day, called the bruma by the Romans. Religion in ancient Rome: what did they believe?īecause they were associated with heaven (Saturn) and Earth (Opalia), their holidays ended up combined, according again to Macrobius.She was the goddess of abundance and the fruits of the earth. Later, the 17th was given over to the Opalia, a feast day dedicated to Saturn’s wife – who was also his sister. The dates for the Saturnalia shifted a bit over time, but it was originally held on 17 December. These included the day of Saturn – the god of seeds and sowing – which was the Saturnalia itself. It was the result of the merging of three winter festivals over the centuries. It was certainly the most popular holiday in the Roman calendar. Saturnalia was described by first-century AD poet Gaius Valerius Catullus as “the best of times”. There were sometimes plots to overthrow the government, because people were distracted – the famous conspirator Cataline had planned to murder the Senate and set the city on fire during the holiday, but his plan was uncovered and stopped by Cicero in 63 BC. We say that during Christmas today the whole world shuts down – the same thing happened during the Saturnalia. Chariot racing was also an important component of the Saturnalia and the associated sun-god festivities around that time – by the late fourth century AD there might be up to 36 races a day. The author Aulus Gellius noted that, as a student, he and his friends would play trivia games. People were permitted to gamble in public and bob for corks in ice water. What did the Romans eat? The surprising foods eaten in ancient Rome.On the feast day, these binds of wool wrapped around his feet were loosened – symbolising that the Romans were ‘cutting loose’ during the Saturnalia. The statue of Saturn in the temple itself spent most of the year with its feet bound in woolen strips.

Macrobius confirms this, and says that the rowdy participants would spill out onto the street, with the participants shouting, “ Io Saturnalia!” the way we might greet people with ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy New Year!’Ī small statue of Saturn might be present at such feasts, as if Saturn himself were there. People would feast in their homes, but the historian Livy notes that by 217 BC there would also be a huge public feast at the oldest temple in Rome, the Temple of Saturn. People would also wear a cap of freedom – the pilleum – which was usually worn by slaves who had been awarded their freedom, to symbolise that they were ‘free’ during the Saturnalia.

Saturnalia tree