Learning Classics is a bit like putting on a magic pair of 3-D glasses. Once you start delving into the language and the culture, you'll start to see it all around you. This blog is a record of the club's journey through the worlds and language of ancient Rome and Greece... and through modern times, too, searching for the influence of classics all around us. You'll also be able to find vocab, home tasks, links and generally enlightening info here, too.

Saturnalia

Extended partying? Roman!
Saturnalia was the Roman festival honouring Saturn, held on the 17th of December but with celebrations going on until the 23rd of December.In Roman mythology, Saturn was an agricultural god who ruled over the world in the Golden Age, when humans enjoyed the plentiful food and social egalitarianism (equality). The celebrations of Saturnalia were supposed to reflect this lost, mythical golden age. 
Wearing of crazy seasonal hats? Roman!

After a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in Rome's Forum, there followed a public banquet, gift-giving, partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was allowed, and masters served food to their slaves. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days” (“optimo dierum”).

Saturnalia was so popular that it continued to be celebrated even when the Roman Empire adopted Christianity, and some of its customs can be seen in current Christmas and New Year traditions.
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