![]() ![]() In fact, it is thought that the exchange, permutatio, of wax candles symbolized Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun, as part of the winter solstice tradition. The ancient Romans also celebrated the solstitium, or winter solstice, at the approximate mid-way point between the Ides of December (December 13th) and the Kalends of January (January 1st), corresponding to our Winter Solstice on December 21st. The Saturnalia was an occasion for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly cerei, wax candles, and again, sigillaria, clay dolls. After sacrifice in the Temple of Saturnus, the celebrants would enjoy a public banquet, then go out to the streets shouting the holiday greeting “IO Saturnalia!” for all to hear. The Temple of Saturnus, thought by many to be the oldest Roman temple recorded by the pontiffs’ annals, had been dedicated on the Saturnalia. “These sigilla were sometimes made of clay, in which case their worth was but trifling, unless the workmanship possessed unusual merit those made of marble, Corinthian bronze, silver, or gold, were, however, frequently of considerable value.” In 1899, Emile Thomas wrote in Roman Life Under the Caesars, “These statuettes were frequently made in the likeness of some divinity, such as Hercules, Minerva, Apollo Sauroctonus, Victory, or of some celebrated mythological character, e.g. The exchange of gifts, the singing of songs, and the dedication of specific foods at meals, all characterized the festival.Īccording to Macrobius, the celebration of the Saturnalia was extended with the Sigillaria, so named for the small earthenware figurines which were sold in Roman shops and given as gifts to children. During the festival, the Romans decorated their homes with evergreen wreaths, called sertae, bearing red berries. ![]() The customary use in December of red and green, representing perennial foliage and berries, dates back to the Roman Saturnalia.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |